Ah, tis a great thing, LINESII's birthday. Lightfang, isn't it strange that another guy whose name we can't speak here had his birthday today and passed out doughnuts? ;) Of course, my own birthday is in six days *hint* *hint*

Iggy, it's understandable. And I assure you, I will actually pay attention to the Canadian Winter Games in an effort to pick you out from the Yukon team and hold blackmail information ;)

Ah, tis a great thing, LINESII's birthday. Lightfang, isn't it strange that another guy whose name we can't speak here had his birthday today and passed out doughnuts? ;) Of course, my own birthday is in six days *hint* *hint*

Iggy, it's understandable. And I assure you, I will actually pay attention to the Canadian Winter Games in an effort to pick you out from the Yukon team and hold blackmail information ;)
Oh, it's really not that hard... right Iggy? :mischief:

Of course, my own birthday is in six days *hint* *hint*

Hey, mine too.

Anyways, no worries Iggy. A little more waiting isn't a big deal, we're all just glad to have it coming soon.

Happy birthday LINES II indeed! It had been hard for me to keep track of all the events here lately, but already the fact that it still lives is mighty inspiring, and I have only the fondest memories of my comparatively brief involvement in this.

@JD- Indeed. But my geographical isolation remains my ultimate defense.

Feel free to visit! :p

@alex994- The next update will be a few days belated birthday present.

"I'm sure I've got it this time."

Erema sighed, letting his friend and fellow Imperial engineer Thresis drag him along the shoreline. "That's what you said last time."

"I almost had it last time." Thresis' voice was animated with the manic genius of invention; there would be no dissuading him, Erema knew. Nevertheless, he tried.

"Last time the spear shot sideways and smashed into a beached fishing boat. We barely got away before the guards arrived."

"Well, yes." Still the tugging remained constant; Erema knew he wasn't getting through.

"And the time before that, the ropes snapped, and lashed you across the face hard enough the swelling didn't go down for a week."

"Admittedly, yes."

Gritting his teeth, Erema made one last attempt to get himself out of this. "And the time before that, the cross-spar spintered and the whole thing fell apart!"

"It did, yes. But I'm sure I've got it this time."

The recalcitrant engineer stifled a groan as Thresis' impossible device came into view around a bend in the high banks backing the shore; there was no escaping now. He was committed to another madcap test of the strange machine.

Still, he had to admire, if not the concept, at least the attempt at execution. The whole contraption was quite large; half as tall as a man and long as two laid head-to-toe. A great wooden beam, planed to perfection and bound with bronze strips to reinforce strategic points rested perpendicular to the rest of the frame near the 'front', tapering towards the tips, which were themselves joined by a thick, twisted rope - or ropes? He couldn't tell at this distance - making it look like nothing more than a bow laid sideways. As they drew nearer, he saw the bronze hook in the ropes, connected to a thicker rope to a winch at the 'rear' to draw the sideways bow. Finally his eyes settled on the thick, bronze-tipped spears leaning against the side, and he groaned again; surely this time they would impale someone, and the guards would take it far more seriously than a hole in some old man's boat.

"Come, come." Thresis released Erema's arm and headed for the winch. "Help me to wind it back; it will take me far longer to do it alone."

The two men, one bursting with enthusiasm, the other morose with forboding doom, soon had the great bow drawn to its fullest. They wrestled one of the heavy spears in place - in a carved groove, Erema noted, to guide it's flight this time.

Before long - and all too quickly, Erema thought - all was in readiness. Thresis, standing near a release lever, pointed to a rocky outcrop out in the water, some ways distant, where a rough wooden shack had been carefully balanced. "That's the target today! Rowed out myself and slapped it together." He rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Are you ready?"

Erema took a goodly number of steps back - far enough to avoid any flying debris when the whole thing collapsed under its own tension, or so he hoped. "I am now."

Thresis yanked the lever, then wisely dove for cover. It proved a needless move; the great, side-mounted bow snapped forward with a deep bass note, launching the heavy spear on an arcing trajectory towards the hastily-constructed wooden shelter, which disintegrated into a cloud of splinters as the brass-tipped projectile smashed through its walls.

It took both of them some time to find their voices again. Erema managed it first. "This time ... this time, you got it."

Thresis regained his a moment later, a wide grin spreading across his face. "How much do you think the emperor will pay for it?"

Erema was late getting to his friend's demonstration at the local barracks' training field, and when he finally arrived he wished he hadn't come at all.

Somehow, Thresis had swelled his audience from one half-interested Sarvan to include the Sepahbod of the entire Syracian navy, most of his staff, and a goodly chunk of the Emperor's advisors. In a fit of dramatic overkill, the engineer had even gone so far as to cover his new weapon with a sheet of sailcloth, preventing his onlookers from getting a good view ahead of time.

Erema started to back out. Maybe I can leave without him noticing me. Then he can accidentally kill half the government without getting me involved. His luck ran true to form, however - which is to say, badly - as Thresis spotted him before he even managed two steps back.

"... and there he is now, esteemed lords! Erema, come now!" The manic inventor motioned his friend forward, and Erema stifled yet another groan as he found himself complying. The engineer-turned-showman continued. "With my friend arrived, we can proceed with the test you've all been waiting most patiently for. Erema! Remove the covering!"

Erema looked at him blankly.

"Oh, for ..." Thresis grabbed a handful of sailcloth and yanked it free of his contraption. "BEHOLD!"

There was absolute silence, accompanied with blank stares. Erema did his best not to smirk.

At last the Sepahbod of the navy spoke. "What does it do?"

"What does it do?" Fairly dancing with enthusiasm, Thresis bounded around the weapon to the release lever - which, Erema noticed belatedly, was cocked and ready, the arms already drawn to full length with spear resting in the firing groove. "Esteemed lords, it does this!"

Thresis yanked the lever.

Erema dove for cover.

Nothing happened.

Thresis coughed, half-mumbling. "Release pin's jammed." He gave the frame a solid kick.

The great, side-laid bow snapped forward, launching the spear on a flat trajectory across the hard-packed dirt and smashing it into a thick wooden post set up as a target. The bronze head buried itself deep, and the post, not having been set in a hole deep enough for proper support, slowly toppled over backwards from the force of the impact, raising a cloud of dirt and dust.

There was silence.

The Sepahbod began to clap. His staff joined him, then the Emperor's advisors, until all were applauding the demonstration.

As the approbation died down, the Sepahbod strode to speak with Thresis privately. Erema heard nothing of what they said, but judging from the look on Thresis' face, it was a very good conversation indeed.

so..... update?

OOC: Did you ignore iggy's various posts about him attending the Canadian Winter Games?

Baeldeth, nice stories. I'm impressed. ;)

Succession of a Priest

"The last thing this already small nation needs is a schism."
-Adviser Sevin Floumite

Priest Karzt. A man in the waning years of his life, after his prime and down the long road that led to degeneration and death. He was getting older, it was true, but he remained fit by exercise. He rather enjoyed his daily stroll across the Palace grounds. The Palace, really just more of a small mansion, was at the center of the grand buildings being built around it. His path first took him to the Hall of Diplomacy, grand and right across from The Palace. It had never been used. He was glad of this. Aryie had always remained nicely neutral, which gave him free time and saved him a lot of worry. He looped around to the back and then went in a large circle, for the Monuments of Karholm were rising up around The Palace. He liked to go very slowly at this part of the walk, because things were always new, and the Hall was always static.

He was sure that they were going to be quite grand, and he worried that he wouldn't be able to see its completion before his death. Still, he was reasonably sure that he would get to see the spoils of this labor. It was all part of the attempts to make Karholm the beating heart of Aryie, without all the nasty mucking about in diplomacy and wars and invasions and loss of life. Who needed men scampering about in shiny uniforms and pieces of land that were stained with blood when one had nice pretty gardens and pretty architecture?

Still, his walks were starting to get less and less pleasant and more and more broody, which he didn't like at all. He didn't want to be bothered during his only truly free time of the day, and yet as he ambled about trying to think of pleasant thoughts, one line of thought crept in nearly every day. And it worried him, gave him crease lines on his brow, forced him to deal with unhappy things.

Officially, the monarchy was simply hereditary. It was plain and simple and secular. Of course, it was a de facto theocratic monarchy in that the heir to the throne was inevitably a priest. It did not matter which order the son was born. The only important thing was that this son was A. a practicing Oneist and B. furthermore, an active one, i.e. a Priest.

Priest Karzt had two sons, in fact. The oldest, Prince Aagi, was a Priest, the traditional arrangement for the eldest son. The youngest, Prince Zekat, was a Bladeist. Karzt didn't know where his son ever picked up such an...alien...religion, but it was of no importance. So far, it was good. He had a Oneist ready to inherit the throne.

However, there was a hitch. Prince Aagi was a sickly young man who also happened to be a hemophiliac, which probably explained his sickliness. Fine, it was all fine and dandy. After all, a hemophiliac doesn't have to do any physical activity when he's a king, right? And yet...he showed signs of instability, which was the clincher for the good Priest. The man seemed to get absolutely obsessive with the most insignificant things. Once, he had refused to leave the palace until everything on all the shelves and closets were alphabetized, marked, and placed in the appropriate places whereupon his organization was ruined. It was pitiful, for the Prince was amazingly intelligent. This obsession probably made him an excellent priest, but overall, it was disastrous. Stack on to that a disturbing increasing trend of an inability to distinguish reality from his fantasy. For example:

--

20 Thermador, 319 Y.G.[1]
Today, I didn't feel like going to lessons, so I ditched Tutor Reuott after breakfast. I went swimming in the Palace Pool with Dwill. I swim the freestyle better, but he has me licked on the backstroke. That's about all. Swimming makes me really tired, but it's still fun! I love swimming and I have a nice tan because of it. Afterward, I got yelled at by Dad, presumably for cutting class. Maybe it was about something else; I wasn't paying attention. I went to bed early because my dad was angry with me.

-Prince Aagi

--


20 Thermador, 319 Y.G.
Today...Aagi thrashed around and giggled in his bed...I fear for his ailing health.

-Priest Karzt

--

The final straw that broke the camel's back was that he was too old to conceive another child, although he was trying his best with his wife, who wasn't aging gracefully. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, in other words.

He rounded the loop and sighed, breathing a prayer to The One, who he was sure was listening to his predicament.

Please, I don't want the great line that started with Priest Azlan to die out. Please, cure my son, or give me an heir. I beg of you. Keep this small nation together.

He sighed and walked back into the Palace, where he effectively distracted himself from the monarchical woes with paperwork.

--
[1]Y.G. is Years of Glory, which started when much of Svitzerland left the crowded nation and established Aryie under the good old Priest Azlan, whose fame and accomplishments have not diminished over time. I also realized, after writing this story that Thermador sounds oddly like Thermidor, and since the French Revolution and Napoleon are being covered right now in Euro AP, well...But anyway, it wasn't intentional. :P

I wanted to try one of those coolio story templates that go "TITLE, QUOTE, STORY", so don't sue me if I don't do justice to this style D:

OOC: Very good lightfang :D Strange that two neighboring nations are both having a crisis of succession is it not? Be a terrible thing if you chose the wrong choice ;)

I wanna play as Magland hurry up and win the games Iggy. :(

OOC: Alex, your stupid prince probably influenced my prince D:

You'll note that I forgot (read: didn't know, and still don't know) what a religious ...guy...of the Bladeist religion is called, so I used the blanket term. Oh well, I'm sure somebody will tell me and I can frock him after the update. :P

Yay, Alex thinks my story is not a failure! :D

OOC: Considering my stupid Prince thinks everyone who aren't Han Guangfei or Valin are stupid primitives... :p

In fact, I've had that exact same difficulty when I write about the Bladeists, swissempire and wubba haven't been very specific on the various doctrines and who administers them for their religion.

Your story was very nice in fact :)

Baeldeth, nice stories. I'm impressed. ;)
Thlyali is impressed! Multi-part-epic-story-arcs Thlayli is impressed! I ... I ... *Hyperventilates; passes out*

------

Don't move. Don't breathe. Don't think. Become one with the bush. Be the bush. I am the bush. I really, really hope they don't see me.

Heraj huddled within a thicket, peering out at the camp of pirates, brigands, and various other heavily-armed scoundrels bent on no good. He was a scout for the Syracian army, and he had gotten a little too close to his assignment.

I am the bush. I am the bush. Don't sneeze. Don't sneeze. This was harder than it sounded as the fine leaves of one particular bush tickled at his nose. Oh Darch*, one of them's coming this way.

Heraj's legs tensed to run, but he resisted the urge. By the time he had thrashed clear of the entagling shrubs that concealed him he'd have a dozen arrows, javelins, and throwing knives embedded in his back. Best to stay put and hope to get lucky.

The pirate drew closer. His companions around the campfire catcalled - that much was clear from the tone, at least - in a language the scout didn't understand. The approaching pirate shouted something back, not slowing his approach.

Be the bush be the bush be the bush don't look down!

Hajan did not move. He was a rock within the bush. He was not a living, breathing, killable being. He was geography.

He was wet.

The scout managed to not scream expletives and chop at the offending pirate with his forage axe. He was the bush. Bushes get this treatment all the time. Bushes do not hack off appendages in revenge. He was the bush.

I am going to

kill

this

man!

Keeping his rage down to a bare tremble, Hajan forced himself with iron willpower not to react. He held rock-steady as the pirate laced up and headed back to his comrades. He did not gag at the foul smell raised by the bush's recent watering. His eyes narrowed with burning hatred at the man responsible for this ... this outrage.

When our soldiers sweep through here I will find you, my friend, and I will kill you. The Emperor as my witness, I will dismember you and watch you squirm and bleed.

After I bathe.

Twice.

Fuming, the scout began a headcount of the men in the camp, knowing he had nothing more to do until they slept and let him make his escape to the nearest river, stream, or small pond.

Anything with fresh water.

-----------

*Darch: Syracian expletive, roughly equivalent to English "Crap".

Thlyali is impressed! Multi-part-epic-story-arcs Thlayli is impressed! I ... I ... *Hyperventilates; passes out*

Oh I see how it is... :p If Guangfei ever meets Syracia, I assure you that the Emperors will be very displeased with how they aren't being sufficiently sucked up towards ;) And they are impressive I admit, though they don't seem to be well... as "droll" as Citadel stories :mischief:

I liked the diction and the writing style. :D Keep it up, chap.

Alas, I am no jalapeno_dude ... seriously, droll? I suppose I haven't read up to the point where Citadel stories start being humorous. :p Or maybe the Guangfei just have a weird sense of humor. ;)

I was going to have this one story about the drunken high priest of some religion hitting the sauce over the triumph of Alse/Atheism over organized religion, but it's been done. Damn you, Viski Lasi! *Shakes fist* :D

Oh I see how it is... :p If Guangfei ever meets Syracia, I assure you that the Emperors will be very displeased with how they aren't being sufficiently sucked up towards ;) And they are impressive I admit, though they don't seem to be well... as "droll" as Citadel stories :mischief:
Uh, what are you talking about? I haven't written a story in a while, and I'm not sure how they're droll...

The final straw that broke the camel's back

Camels don't exist, or not as far as I remember (or i would have some, for operations in the desert!).

;)

Uh, what are you talking about? I haven't written a story in a while, and I'm not sure how they're droll...

Maybe he means stories written from the point of view of scholars from the Citadel? That was my first impression.

so..... update?*whacks Ken*

OOC: Did you ignore iggy's various posts about him attending the Canadian Winter Games?*whacks Ken with alex's help*

Camels don't exist, or not as far as I remember (or i would have some, for operations in the desert!).

;)There are some camelids living at cold and dry climate extremes.

You know, I feel like an idiot now because I got Aagi and Zekat confused in Karzt's diary entry. D: And I even proof read it somewhere to the order of twice! D:
--
Canadia games end around March 10, am I right? I shall be eagerly expecting it. :o

I only compete for the first week of the games. I get home on Saturday.

If i see you and i track you down, do i get a bonus EC?

Nope. Though you won't be the first one to try. Or even the second.

Heh, wasn't all that hard either. Just for the challenge I thought I'd try - took me about 4 mins... :p

*Beats Head on Desk*

Ah, the difficulties of being a national athlete from a small territory...

Couldn't find you on the website :(

EDIT: 2,600 :)

"Some say Death is a woman, or a tall skeleton wearing a black cloak. I know better. Death is not a thing, but a lack of a thing. The emptiness of a stilled heartbeat, or vacant eyes revealing a vanished mind behind. If death has a feeling, it is cold."

-Andron Pelcari, Observations, Vol 1.

He didn't want to die.

It was all a game in the beginning, a child's tale of bright armor and great deeds. Of mighty Stratikrators leading their hosts to glorious victory, or mysterious resistance fighters sniping at the enemy from buildings and alleyways. Excited faces by the fireside, animated discussions in tavern back rooms, and fair maidens throwing flowers in the road...that was all it was to them.

The lofty concepts that they fought for, freedom and self-interest, a reborn Veritas risen from exile, shimmered like bright stars on an azure sky.

But in the end, it came down to plunging your blade through muscle and bone, tearing the sinews of life made by the One's own hand, until something broke in your enemy's body.

And after a while, something broke in all of them.

Soldiers often called it "the subtle wound," that internal adjustment to cause violence, pain, and death without remorse, on a daily basis. It was something they all had to do, because combat was personal. You faced a man, as much a man as you, and as worthy of life, fighting for ideals not entirely dissimilar from your own, and you had to make him your hated foe. You had to watch his life bleed out at your feet, without pity, and know that he would do the same.

The irony of death in war was that it was so impersonal, and yet so personal simultaneously. You never truly saw the man behind the helmet, and if you died, or he died, there were no hard feelings about it. Personally, you could respect the man, even as a faceless foreign monster.

But that was what made it so difficult. Because inside, he was the exact same soldier as you.

The conscript farmer from Khemri, the illiterate miner from Myocaca, or the grizzled fisherman from Veritas...they were simple men, and no different from countless other thousands. They fought because they were told, because if they refused, their families, or other families, would die. It had happened once. It would happen again.

But these men, when thrown into the inhumane, unholy carnage of war, forgot all of that. It became a simple struggle for survival. Blade on blade on flesh.

The violence was horrible, but almost hypnotic in its age-old patterns. And it would go on.

He didn't want to die.

When they came through the barricades in the High City, he fled with the rest. What was his name? It hardly mattered, for he was one of faceless thousands, an irrelevant mote in a battalion of soldiers marching to some obscure destiny that no historical footnote would ever remember.

But death would not touch him. They were Death's attendants.

The second wave of Royal Guardsmen came over the wall. A high, orange flag waved in the distance, and he heard their cheers. They were young, fresh from the cities and river-villages of Khemri's heartlands.

They hadn't learned yet, he realized. But they would.

OOC: I believe Khemri has Royal Guardsmen while Guangfei has Imperial Guardsmen ;)

A world of implication behind that sentence, then. :mischief:

Or not. :p

OOC: I can conscript more people then you have in your whole nation ;)

OOC: I can conscript more people then you have in your whole nation ;)

Yes, the battle-tested effectiveness of conscripts has been clearly shown in so many wars, which is why none of the great wars to date have been won by powers using professional armies...did I have that right? :p

I was going to have this one story about the drunken high priest of some religion hitting the sauce over the triumph of Alse/Atheism over organized religion, but it's been done. Damn you, Viski Lasi! *Shakes fist* :D

Which one of them are you referring to? Just curious.

Given the 'sauce' reference, I'd say probably the original Viski Lasi.

Btw, I think my ruler should be changed from Viski Lasi, if it isn't already. I was supposed to write that story where I detailed the new Lasian dynasty, but I guess I kind of forgot it all. Will get around to that, I promise.

If you give me a name now, I can add it to the stats SS.

Ah, it's a great feeling to update after a long hiatus. :)

OK, but I think I should write the story first. And I need to continue the ending story arc for my Fall of Wu'di as well. Gah.

Yes, I was referring to good ol' "Throw the bad wine at 'em!" Lasi. Now that was a leader!

You know his name means Whiskey Glass in Finnish? :D

Yes, I read that bit. ;)

Ah, the Wardash War. That was a fun one...

We may see some more of that soon. [/ominous eyebrow raise and grin :p]

So what's the ETA?

8 hours maybe... not later than tomorrow.

One last story attempt before the update. I've got some really good story arcs in the works, but they'll probably be affected greatly by update events, so I'll hold off on those for now.

---

"All creatures experience pain, but only humans are granted the gift of suffering. A plant or an animal can feel pain, that raw impulse telling the body that something is amiss. But true suffering comes when a man experiences pain, and asks, 'Why?'"

-Peletarien, fragmented manuscripts, 720 P.D.

Stratikrator Xenophon crossed onto land, accepting and returning the salutes of the guards below. Absorbing them into his growing retinue, he walked towards the green, where horses awaited them. The harbor was small, but incredibly busy. Converted scouting galleys, long hulking transport barges, sleek triremes, and massive septaremes bristling with ballistae were all pulling up to the harbor, or sailing away to staging areas. On shore, quartermasters and Tacticas alike tried to bring order from the chaos of loading and unloading troops, supplies, and weapons. The entire harbor serviced the city of Salvation, temporary headquarters of the Legioni in all the west of Tellus.

Salvation, City of Flowers, his home. The air in Salvation had a special quality about it, perfumed from the blossoming fruit trees and gardens built in the Golden Ages, long past. It was a brilliant city, shining with green and white, silver and blue. And an ancient city, the ancestral second city of the Old Republic.

It was fortunate that so many things from the Greater Days could be saved here. The city itself was like an echo of a song. The original white marble walls had long since fallen into decay, but he saw them being repaired with sandstone, as blue-cloaked architects carefully oversaw their laboring work crews. The city, long since diminished from war and occupation, was once again thriving under the careful, efficient eyes of its soldier-governors.

The five round hills surrounding the city's center were each crowned with a temple, entrusted with the sacred task of cultivating the white roses that honored the One's purity, and the sacrifice of his Chosen. The Stratikrator knew that he had to reach the front lines immediately, to command the Urban Militia and Pelarioi battalions preparing the barricade. But there was something he had to do, first.

He signalled his aide, a young but promising Septilion named Vespasian. He pulled his skittish warhorse alongside his commander's.

"My lord?"

"Escort my guards on to the outer fortifications, and ensure that the army is set in preparation. I must speak with someone before I join you."

"As you wish."

Turning into the city, he made for the inner citadel. Salvation itself was never a military base, so the newly built ringed fortification loomed over the city center like an uncomfortable king perched on a blocky throne. But he turned his horse away from the gate, making for a tall columned building marked as the city's Hall of Knowledge.

The shelves were much greater than in his childhood, he remembered. Hidden scrolls and books had been returned, and a flow of exiled scholars from Lux and elsewhere brought many tomes with them. The man was waiting for him already, he saw with a start. Strange, that he would know the date of the Stratikrator's arrival in advance.

The elderly man stood in the center of the hall, warming his hands by the open fire pit in the center of the room. In his hands were the books spoken of.

"Aged master, I greet you," the Stratikrator said, performing the traditional bow. "While I truly wish that I might speak with you at length, I must reach the outer fortifications by nightfall."

Bowing humbly, the librarian smiled. "You need not say more, Xenophon. I knew you from the First Liberation, and will welcome a second. It would be good to see my books in Lux again, before my days end."

"And so you shall." He took the three books, carefully examining them. The first two, a biography of Strategius and some Crystalic rock-lore text, were inconsequential, but the third...yes, it was the one spoken of.

"So there were indeed three copies..." he mused.

"My lord?"

"Ah, it was nothing." Turning the slim, black book over in his hands, he shuddered thinking of what this knowledge might have done in another's grasp. He turned to leave, but thought better of it just before.

"Scholar, was there ever another that asked to see these?"

"Only one, a dark man out of the North. His Valin was strange, and his voice shadowed."

"My thanks. Endure these times well."

"A blessing upon you, commander."

He quickly paged through the thin book once more, and then tossed it on the fire, before the shocked eyes of the scholar.

Mounting his horse in the growing gloom outside, he made ready to ride to the outer fortifications. In his mind, his thoughts grew troubled. The war bothered him not at all...but this thing grew deeper. How much had been lost in the Stratikrator's Citadel and the Tomb, and how much remained to be discovered? Gregorian, he wondered, was this why you killed yourself?

Nice story Thlayli. I'm just getting around to your part now.

Ah, the Wardash War. That was a fun one...

We may see some more of that soon. [/ominous eyebrow raise and grin ]


Tha cat was let out of the bag along time ago Iggy ;].

Yeah, I hate writing now.

Carp... Swiss, could you resend your orders, if you still have them? I just accidentally deleted them and I don't have your spending recorded, among a few other things.

:lol: *points and laughs at Iggy*

noooo!!!! *cries and starts melting*

Carp... Swiss, could you resend your orders, if you still have them? I just accidentally deleted them and I don't have your spending recorded, among a few other things.

Yeah, I'll see if i can find them.

BTW, whats with the prefacing with a fish

Apparently, NESers have undertaken sacred oaths not to say crap :mischief:

Apparently, NESers have undertaken sacred oaths not to say crap :mischief:

Do not tempt me Frodo!

Actually, that's how I talk IRL. I find it amusing.

Sorta like mixing curse levels (http://xkcd.com/c75.html).

So where is the update?

Coming sometime today.

Just for the record, the world would be so much a better place without the Bladeists, Valins, Davarians and the Gorinese ;)

I love being excluded from such lists

Events take place after the Redemption Event

Every now and then, the tree of piety must be watered with the blood of Heretics- Wilipo

Ascendant Master Evern III Wilipi sat on his golden throne within his palace. The Valin and Ardanese Ambassdors were dragged before him. They had tryed to escape the capital whence word of the Redemption events reached their ears. The Royal guard had of course caught them and dragged them before His Holiness. Well, they had dragged the Ambassdors before him. Their Retinues had been.....dispatched of. Evern could see some of the Gore still on his guard, Franzes, face.

"Well, well, well. Tell me ambassadors, why would you leave me? When we have just signed alliance with your people, why do you flee?"

The Valin Ambassador studdered, his silver toungue and affected airs failing him.

But, with Ardanese spirit, the Ambassador from Ardan spat, "Allies! Alliance! Your words were fallacy. I suspected such from barbarians like you, but the Bishop wanted to beleive. We fled for our lives, after what you did at..."

But Evern cut him off by raising his right hand, his robes, red and purple, fluttering with such a dignified gesture.

"Thats quite enough. Well, at least we can dispense of the deception now. Ambassdor, your words and courage have saved you."

Evern had to admit, begrudgingly, that those Ardanese were a courageous, if foolish and heretical, people. Pity they had been fooled by the Valin Lie. They would make superb Bladeists, much less humane than those damned Aryians. Evern then cast his regal gaze upon the studdering Valin Ambassador.

"You, though, are an entirely different story. Your silence and cowardice has condemned you. Heretic, pray the Blademaster shows you mercy, though he won't."

And in a fluid motion, his left hand emerged from his robes and sent two Kine[1] flying. They slashed out the two sides of the Valin Ambassador, spinning and slash through his sides and his kidneys, and came to rest in the Wooden bench accross the room, stained with corrupt Valin blood. The Valin Ambassador lay there bleeding to death. The Ardanese one moved to help him.

"Don't" said Evern, as two Royal Guards blocked his path with their swords, "Leave him. I need you alive so you can hear my Edict and know you can do nothing to stop it. This doctrine will deal with the Oneism Heresy once and for all."

Evern produced a scroll from his pocket. "No doubt my priests are reading this in Temples as we speak."

Clearing his throat, Evern began. "The Extinction Doctine, Crafted, Distrbuted and Enforced By Holy Decree, from His Holiness, the Ascendant Master Evern III Wilipi....."
__________________________________________________ _____________

"“People of the Swade and Bladeist Stock……It is the calling of the Blademaster that the Oneists be no more. Like we did in Redemption, the best and only solution to the Oneist Plague is to Purge them. Therefore, you will take no prisoners in the conflict with the Oneists, you will make no distinction between Warrior and Innocents, because All Oneists are Heretic Warriors that would kill you if you had the chance. You must burn their villages, kill their children and women and men, and you must be vigilant in doing so. Pity and mercy should be driven from your heart whence you slay a Oneist. Slaughter them like the pigs they are!........The Ascendant Master is offering 100 Swadris for every 100 Oneist heads that are brought to the capital by a Civilian in this conflict. If your Neighbor is a Oneist, it is your Divine duty to slaughter his family and burn his house, and take his animals as your own.....go in peace, and carry out your divine duty. The cleansing has been begun by our anscestors, but will be finished by us!”

The High Priest Khaine finished his passioned reading of most of the Extinction Doctrine. His congregation was in frenzy. He picked up the glass of red Beezle Fruit Wine that was on his stone Alter and began to preach once more.

"My people, we are called, not only by the Ascendant Master but by the Blademaster himself to action. In this action, we must not falter. We must spill the blood of the heretic! We must cleanse the world of the Oneist filth! It is us or them, and by Blade, it will be us! Kill the Oneists!" He cried as he broke the wine holder and the thick, red Beezle Fruit Wine pooled on the altar.
Khaine grabbed a latern and threw it upon the Wine, and the Altar caught fire. With only his siloette visible, he cackled "The world shall go up in flames, but we will prevail!"

Khaine watched as the flames flickered. He then dosed them with water. "We will prevail because after the fire, when all else is ash, the Sword is still left, Charred, but strong."

Alrighty Iggy, update ready yet?

His Highness, Prince Liu Ming informs the Bladeists States that the Bladiests Primitives West of Guangfei, when they come under his jurisdiction, will be purged and treated as the Bladeists have treated the Oneists.

please stop posting... please... just wait till iggy posts the update please!! *cries*

His Highness, Prince Liu Ming informs the Bladeists States that the Bladiests Primitives West of Guangfei, when they come under his jurisdiction, will be purged and treated as the Bladeists have treated the Oneists.

His Holiness forgot to include their protection is his orders. Damnit!

And he had a deal Alex, so you better not!

IC: The Valin Republic of Veritas makes a public statement affirming that the rights of all religious minorities, including Bladeists and New Eldists, will be protected under the law of the land, as is their right as citizens of the Republic.

We will not stoop to the levels of barbarians in our reprisals. Though we are a nation of Oneists, freedom of religion will be respected.

From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: Guangfei

We commend the actions of the Crown Prince in rapidly dealing with their encroaching Bladeist threat. We also wish to propose a Defensive Pact against the barbarians inhabiting the jungles north of Guangfei and her dependencies.

OOC:
They would make superb Bladeists, much less humane than those damned Aryians. Evern then cast his regal gaze upon the studdering Valin Ambassador.

Hey, what? D:

IC: Prince Zekat is adamant that although he is a loyal follower of Bladeism, he shan't go on a holy crusade against innocent people, though they follow a heathen god. Will they not get their comeuppance in the end?

We want the update and a new thread.

and an end to spam

shut up

and an end to spam

shut up

OOC: I hate you

Also, Thayli, you don't know about the Extinction Doctrine yet, it happens after an update event. So that diplomacy needs to happen after words. And that Defensive pact was a REALLY obvious way to get Alex into the war which you started long ago.

I think that Iggy should hold off on launching a new thread until after this series of wars ends. After all, there's only been something like 4 updates here, in comparison to...a lot more in the first thread.

OOC: I already assumed your betrayal...consider it in response to the massacre at Redemption if you want. As for getting alex to declare war on you, I'm not going to be subtle about it. Here, I'll even say it: I want alex to declare war on you. ;)

Just for the record there is no such thing as a "Davarian". However, all the righteous Davians laugh at the foolish Guangfeian mistake :).

Edit: Just like there is no Ardanese :). Either Davian or Orum. hah. Swiss, I pointed out the fact that I merely want along with Thy's wish. I've shown great wish to wipe you off the map, don't forget :). And Swiss, you do realize that you made a deadly mistake, right?

And no, its not because we're going to kill you. I hope you had the mind to think about your situation....

Not to be annoying or anything but will the update be up soon or should I go to bed?

After 83 days of living in fear, I can finally say it again...

Iggy, update NAO! ;)

It's 3am for Iggy. So much for being done yesterday :p

Sorry. I lost a bunch of updating time and a bit of work when some drunk guys my age plowed into the power poles at the start of my road. Power just got restored a few minutes ago.

Wow, Iggy you should be more responsible. ;)

/heavyirishaccent A likely story! Throw 'im in the Paddy, boys!


So...almost done?

Wow, Iggy you should be more responsible. ;)Heheh, I can't drink. I have Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_1-antitrypsin_deficiency)

/heavyirishaccent A likely story! Throw 'im in the Paddy, boys!


So...almost done?Quite soon... I can resume as soon as I can get on my updating computer.

Not being able to get drunk....I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy.

Iggy: Does that ever get in the way of your skating?

You poor kid :(.

To: Swade
From: Myocaca

Are you asking me to murder my own people? Myocaca has held threw all our time a belief in freedom of religion in our lands, unless their be uprising.

Haha. I love Swiss. He's so much fun :).

Haha. I love Swiss. He's so much fun :).

I love me too. The Swade will go down in a bloody, fireball of death, or die trying;)

Actually not really. All this sets up cause for a change of events that will rock the world!

And if all else fails i can always switch to Sintonia;)

You realize that by that little extermination policy you're asking your sole ally to abaddon whatever uniqueness it had and exterminate a large portion of its people (12%)?

Hah.

Swiss, you evil firebranding fool of a took!

Oh well. Aryie will...we'll see. :P

frankly myocaca's policy has been wipe out veritas, all other oneists have lived peacefully with bladeists for years, we purged Emorians and hold a minor grudge, but with the citizens who have lived with us for years we have no problem with, but hey, i got a nice story idea now:)

You realize that by that little extermination policy you're asking your sole ally to abaddon whatever uniqueness it had and exterminate a large portion of its people (12%)?

Hah.

I'm not asking Myocaca to do anything.

I'm a good Big Brother.

I'll do it FOR them:high5: :evil:

@Azash- No, as most skaters don't smoke, drink, or do drugs while competing. :p

The type described in the wiki isn't the exact same type as I have. There's 3 types of gene: M, S, and Z. The combinations are:

M-M, M-S, M-Z, and S-S are all unaffected. 2499 out of 2500 people are in this group.
S-Z is what I have. Being in smoky environments or drinking, for example, a llittle bit of champagne at new years will make me quite sick.
Z-Z needs a liver transplant at birth, or needs to be kept away from anything that could theorectically harm the lungs or liver.

But enough about my health. If you're seriously interested, ask me on the NES chatroom.

About the update: Pretty much finished Khemri/Veritas, not just need to do the Bladeists, Guangfei, and... MAGLAND! :EVIL:

*watches alex994 squirm*

@Azash- No, as most skaters don't smoke, drink, or do drugs while competing. :p

The type described in the wiki isn't the exact same type as I have. There's 3 types of gene: M, S, and Z. The combinations are:

M-M, M-S, M-Z, and S-S are all unaffected. 2499 out of 2500 people are in this group.
S-Z is what I have. Being in smoky environments or drinking, for example, a llittle bit of champagne at new years will make me quite sick.
Z-Z needs a liver transplant at birth, or needs to be kept away from anything that could theorectically harm the lungs or liver.

But enough about my health. If you're seriously interested, ask me on the NES chatroom.

About the update: Pretty much finished Khemri/Veritas, not just need to do the Bladeists, Guangfei, and... MAGLAND! :EVIL:

*watches alex994 squirm*

I hope it doesn't die. Alex promised me.

About the update: Pretty much finished Khemri/Veritas, not just need to do the Bladeists, Guangfei, and... MAGLAND! :EVIL:

*watches alex994 squirm*

*raises eyebrow* Considering my massive population I can get to go out and volunteer in the hundreds of thousands for active military service or for some war effort thingy, it would be stupid for the Bladeists or Magland to invade me. ;)

And really Iggy, squirming is not something I do. Whining on the other hand :mischief:

@Iggy - so wrong. I don't know what type of skater you mean, but trust me, they do.

who has the biggest population? me? kal? or alex?

You realize that by that little extermination policy you're asking your sole ally to abaddon whatever uniqueness it had and exterminate a large portion of its people (12%)?

Hah.

remind me ow im involved already?"?"

*sigh* darkening spelled abandon wrong. Abaddon, your name is a noun, not a verb so even if he meant you it wouldn't have made sense in the context of the sentence. It's quite simple ;)

remind me ow im involved already?"?"

I think he meant to say "abandon." (erk, I was out stickled by alex)

Ok, let's kill the spam after THIS point.

Yes, I think you people should have realized by now that I'm a hypocrite and I can't spell.

Dark, MSN? *ok, really now, the spam dies here*

Oh yeah. Whenever I decide to get on, you're not there. Now, after torturing me for three months, you expect me to?

*le sigh* Give me a minute.

Iggy I wanna play hurry up and post. You meany.

It's 6am for him now, IIRC. He will soon be awake :evil:

You don't recall correctly, it's 2 am his time now (I think, assuming Yukon is PST). If it were 6 am he'd be somewhere out in the Atlantic, or possibly on Greenland. :p

Update 25- Years 1631 to 1677: Blademaster's Strike

The Yathai have expanded further, under the leadership of Viski Lasi’s descendants. They have established control over almost all of their archipelago, but run into powerful resistance on the mainland. The people there refuse to convert to Mantea, and are willing to fight to maintain what is theirs.

Emperor Jara, First Great Leader of Syracia, has taken a stand against the Ida’an’i’i pirates occupying the end of the Aithean peninsula. Several thousand soldiers set up camp near the border, and simply waited. The pressure of having to maintain a guard against an organized foe was too much for the raiders, who retreated without a fight, taking everything of value with them.

Raids from sea, however, continue.
(-5 Ships, +Syracian Confidence)

All throughout Kelios, the damage from the Tsayan war has been repaired, or at least plastered over. The economic strengthening has manifested itself in the development of Mard as a major port for Kelios’ goods.
(+Mard Economic Center)

However, the times are not all good. Barbarian attacks have begun from the north, after the failure of negotiations. It has been discovered that these are the northern bretheren of the Tsayans, and the land where many of the defeated fled to. Fired up with goals of conquest and vengeance, multiple disorganized attacks have destroyed several minor villages and a noticeable number of soldiers.
(-500 Axemen)

For many years, even centuries, the Divotheist faith had been weakening. Alse and Atheists migrated down from the north, destroying older Divotheist states, and new faiths from Terrania have worked their way into the cultures of Azulia, most notably in Tir Tairngire. A general lack of cooperation was the doom of the surviving nations. Until the ascendance of Prince Justok to the throne of Sanx. The third king of the Nictuma dynasty, Justok was a fervent Divotheist and skilled diplomat. He commissioned the order of Cloud Warriors, and rallied the failing will of his people and faith with goals of a restoration of the faith. Chancotol was also swept up in the fervor, and an alliance was signed between the two strongest remaining bastions of Divotheism. Their first goal: Intervention in the Tuatha civil war.

Chief Connall IV was already in a difficult situation, needing to both deal with the rebel forces and keep his own unruly people under control. However, his situation changed from difficult to near impossible when nearly 10 thousand enemy soldiers from Chancotol and Sanx came to support the Divotheist rebellion of Chief Kenna. Connall sent a desperate request for help to Ardan, but no forces were available. Only a promise to protect his next of kin and restore the nation in the future were offered. Now totally alone, the Pirian Chief of Tir Tairngire prepared his forces for the onslaught. He would wait even less than the brief time he had expected.

A force with Divotheist contingents from all of his enemies advanced straight to the capital of Murias. Outnumbered more than 5 to 1, Connall’s defenders were destroyed by the Divotheists, with Chief Kenna commanding the forces himself. As per Tuatha tradition, the two leaders fought each other, and once again Chief Kenna slew a Chief of the Connall bloodline, despite losing his right hand in the fight.

With Pirian authority shattered, the rest of the nation quickly fell into Kenna’s hands. While the new chief of Tir Tairngire was content to allow religious freedom, the zealous forces of Sanx enslaved and generally mistreated the Pirian clergy, reigniting conflict in the country. Kenna now approaches the forces who intervened on his behalf, thanking them for their assistance but requesting that they stop their retaliatory actions lest they be forced to continue fighting in Tir Tairngire, which delays intervention in Zemora.
(-4000 Tuatha Swordsmen, -1000 Sanx Spearmen, -500 Cloud Warriors, -1000 Chancotol Spearmen, -1000 Chancotol Axemen)

However, this possible intervention soon proved to be irrelevant. Adar quickly moved to liberalize its religious policies to give Zemorans a say in the Justiciar Coucil, but with the exception of collaborators (who made up perhaps one quarter of the population) most refused to recognize Adar’s occupation.

Regardless of this, and the relative lack of success of propaganda, the armies of Adar marched onwards. A large force quickly broke through the weak defenses and captured the northern reaches of Zemora, then swung around to aid the weaker southern force as it struggled to reach the capital. Striking Zemora’s ailing forces from the east, the capital was besieged. Despite its powerful defenses, designed by the Citadel itself, it was not impervious to attack, and was stormed after the realization that the city could get almost all of its food from fishing the rich waters to its south. Most of the government and people of importance escaped by sea, and the whole country was completely occupied. With this accomplished, Adar continued to attempt to make a working country out of itself and its foe. Unfortunately, while the generally pacifist Zemorans didn’t violently resist, they were and remain to this day generally uncooperative with their occupiers.
(-Zemora, +20 Chancotol Ships (Zemoran Government fled there), -1000 Justiciar Spears, -2000 Justiciars, -1000 Archers)

The Citadel of Knowledge continues its regular explorations. Another expedition into the far north was sent, but it reached a point where the ice became totally impassable. A small group of explorers set out over the sea-ice, and were never heard from again.

However, the northern expedition did discover a previously overlooked nation having only recently risen from barbarism. Malereficar is a warlike, but honourable, theocratic nation worshipping the god Maler.

Large amounts of New Eldist missionary activities have taken place in countries throughout the world, particularly in the Davarian region of the Union of Ardan. Several of the nations involved in the War of the White Rose are keeping a very close eye on their pacifist movements.

Gamorrea continues to refine its combat skills against the northern barbarians. Their casualties against the weaker and weaker tribes in the far north have continued to decline.
(-1000 Horse Archers)

In Gorin, chaos breaks out in the north. The problems began when several racist Gorinese groups in the north began programs to destroy the Lengel remnants. The Lengels, fearing a fate like the Gerbers before them, grouped around one warrior, who donned the Iron Mask of a Lengelzai and led his people to a new war- not for conquest as in the past, but for freedom and survival.

Gorin was quick to respond. Its agents killed several rebel leaders, but that alone was not enough to stop the uprising. So with typically heavy-handed (though highly effective) tactics, a huge force moved up into the northern area to augment the small local garrison and civilian militia. While this forced the rebellion down to committing minor raids, the huge area involved overspread even this massive army. It was this overextension that allowed the Republic of the Merhai to score its early victories against Gorin.

Coming to the aid of their former allies, the True Lengels, Merhai forces struck around the headwaters of the Wardash and Kalmar rivers. Gorin had been expecting this, but its defensive preparations were not quite complete at the time of the attack. Several smaller Gorinese forces were destroyed early on, but Gorin’s forces quickly rallied and began to push back the invaders. Southern Ramids were used against their Northern brethren during warmer periods, and deadly Bajo-Oni, acting as both commanders and soldiers, laid waste to much of the Merhai army. Seeing defeat as an inevitability against such might, even with the Lengel rebels on their side, Merhai forces withdrew back to the mountain ranges protecting their homeland. Gorin couldn’t capitalize on its enemy’s weakness, due to its distraction with the constant Lengel raids and the weakness of its long and delicate supply lines.
(-1000 Merhai Swordsmen, -1500 Spearmen, -15 Wooly Ramids, -1000 Gorinese Spearmen, -2000 Cavalry, -20 Ramids, -10 Bajo-Oni, -Some Non-stat Militias)

However, it didn’t need to capitalize on the opportunity. It had a new ally to do that.

Fairhelt, ancient rival and enemy of the Merhai clan, had long maintained a powerful army. It had watched Merhai grow more and more economically powerful, and weaken its armies by waging wars in the south. And now Gorin had approached it with gifts of technology and friendship, in exchange for joining it in the war against the Merhai. There would never be a chance better than this.

Fairhelt’s raiders attacked in several areas, hoping to distract Merhai’s forces. However, this backfired, as Merhai didn’t have enough forces to react in the area. Instead, they now had a warning of attack. People around the country were called up to fight for their nation’s freedom against an aggressor. But before these forces could reach the front lines, the main Fairhelt force struck, led by none other than Saro, leader of Fairhelt and self-proclaimed ‘Conqueror’.

Pouring into the relatively flat and poorly-defensible lands at the northwest corner of the inland sea, Saro quickly captured the northern reaches of the country. The small archer garrison in the mountains at the border was quickly starved out and annihilated. Securing the area around the inland sea, Fairhelt’s forces then began to advance upriver towards Kaliai. Here, they met their first significant resistance. The volunteer army of Merhai and some of the survivors from the Gorinese campaign confronted the invaders in battle, then retreated after discovering that they were outnumbered. Adopting raiding and attrition tactics, Merhai slowed Fairhelt’s advance. In desperation, the Great Council adopted a burnt earth policy, taking everything of use further south, and damaging or destroying anything which couldn’t be moved.

It seems that this policy has worked. Fairhelt’s forces have been halted, but their losses have been comparatively tiny. As for Merhai, its troops are well-supplied, but its economy is in tatters. Over half of its productive areas are captured, and trade with the south has been totally cut off. Save foreign intervention of a humiliating peace treaty, it seems that Merhai is now facing its destruction.
(-500 Merhai Spearmen, -1000 Archers, -5 Wooly Ramids, -2000 Fairhelt Axemen, -25 Wooly Ramids, -1 Merhai Region, -Kaliai Economic Center, +Fairhelt Confidence)

Croyodon’s brief civil war has come to an end, (what haven’t you read Farow’s stories? :p) resulting in national reunification and a council giving representation to both major religions in the nation. Tensions with increasingly temperamental Gorin are high, although nothing has yet come of this.

With the construction of the southern port of Tanadon, trade with the nations in the south other than Gorin is developing rapidly.


While Lengels rebelled and Merhai invaded Gorin in the north, a third strike hit from the east. A massive force of mixed levies and professionals led by the Union of Ardan’s Styatior Xean crossed the Keran Range by road and burst into Gorin at possibly its weakest point. Several shows of strength quickly convinced a large number of Nkondi to rebel, though many didn’t, and some even formed an insurgency against the Oneist invaders and collaborators.

With horrifying speed, Xean conquered his way across the Kalmar River, smashing a fairly significant Gorinese army dealing with the Lengel rebellion at the Battle of Zawasae. General Teos, Xean’s second-in-command, led a smaller and lower quality army into what had once been Gerber, eliminating the minimal Gorinese presence in the area and discovering a small group of Aneyans establishing what they called ‘The Free City of Tigot’. By the time that both generals had reached the banks of the Wardash, there had still been no enemy counterattack. Central Gorin was ripe for the taking.

Then, the forces which had been redeployed from the Croyodon border arrived to confront Xean’s army, just as it was about to make a final advance to the city of Gorin itself. At the Battle of Dathan, thousands of Gorinese cavalry led by a relatively obscure general named Haloski and an uncounted number of volunteer militia faced off against Xean’s 5000 professionals and 30 000 conscripts, augmented by Nkondi rebels.

Xean made the first move. His Katiahn and Spear formations advanced straight towards the center of the still-organizing Gorinese force, with his vast conscript forces guarding the flanks. General Haloski sent his large cavalry force around to charge the right flank of the enemy, and set up a Moosey and militia Spearman formation to meet Xean’s assault. Ardan’s troops smashed down a huge number of Spearmen, but Gorin’s cavalry were ripping the right flank apart.

Pulling back his center and regrouping, Haloski sent his surviving Mooseys to try and stop the Katiahn advance. They put up a strong fight, but were shattered. Large parts of the remaining Gorinese militia began to panic and disorganize, giving Xean the chance to move his infantry around to counter the Gorinese Cavalry. Sending forth thousands of swift Nkondi Spearwomen, Gorin’s Cavalry fought, but consistently were denied in their flanking attempts. Thinned out to the point of collapse after hours of fighting, Gorin’s cavalry retreated to the south, to warn the central cities of Gorin.

Having won this latest battle, Xean pressed his advantage and raced for the ancient city of Gorin. Reaching it a few hours before sunrise, the Styatior of Ardan stormed the city. The surviving militia and civilian resisters fought valiantly and cost heavily, but the city fell nonetheless. Much to Xean’s disappointment, the Kaiser had already fled over the river to Bathar.

The advance was now in a very delicate stage. The supply lines were stretched too far, and the army relied on its own movement through enemy land to get new food and supplies. Seizing most things of value from the capital of Gorin, Xean prepared to cross the Wardash to Bathar. Then, dire news reached him from General Teos.

Khemri had intervened.

The General known to most as ‘The Knight’ had led a force of tens of thousands of Khemri soldiers through Gorin and straight into Teos’ force. At the Battle of Gyarth, Khemri’s highly advanced and balanced force had emerged with a total victory over Teos’ less trained and sizeable army. Only the general and his personal bodyguard had managed to escape.

Following his victory at Gyarth, The Knight cut his enemies’ supply lines and turned to destroy the trapped invaders. Xean’s army, forced to abandon its advance, met up with Teos in the Darkavia region (former Qua’laen Jal) and prepared to battle for their lives and nation.

Wasting no time, Khemri threw a huge cavalry charge and arrow bombardment at the enemy force. Xean’s depleted force bunkered down and fought off several charges, but the Crystal Knights, as Khemri’s former Cataphratori are now known as wore away at the exhausted force. Soon coming to see that their fighting was almost hopeless, the Styatior called for a fighting retreat back into Nkondi lands. However, his infantry force lacked the great maneuverability and balance of The Knight’s mixed army. Xean’s soldiers and conscripts were encircled as soon as their intentions were discovered. In one final, heroic battle, Xean’s forces seized a small hill and fought Khemri to their deaths. The cost was high, but Ardan’s forces in Gorin were annihilated.
(-All of Ardan’s remaining 40 000 Recruits, -2000 Spearmen, -1000 Katiahn, -1500 Urban Militia, -2000 Gorinese Cavalry, -2000 Spearmen, -1000 Mooseys, -500 Archers, -A bunch of volunteers, -2000 Khemri Royal Guards, -3000 Crystal Knights, -5000 Militia, -5 Armoured Ramids, A bunch of Nkondi rebels, -4 Economy points to Gorin next turn, -Gorinese Confidence)

Shortly after the defeat of Xean’s forces, a huge explosion ripped through a central part of Gorin. This is quite odd, as explosives haven’t been invented yet. Found written on a wall the day after was an ominous promise of ‘more death and destruction’. Gorinese investigators have yet to make heads or tails of the motive or cause of the attack..

Kalmar was secured by a large Khemri force led by Ithaur, The Void, the black-armoured General of Khemri. Bereft of all love and emotion save for his orders, since the loss of his wife and family during the White Rose rebellion. Disloyal elements in Kalmar were purged from the military and other places of power, and the nation’s relationship with Khemri was reaffirmed.
(-2000 Kalmar Spearmen)

With the Union of Ardan reeling, Khemri prepared to deal a killing blow to the Davian portion of the Union. The Nkondi rebels were largely ignored, they could be dealt with later. Securing the same mountain road which Davar had crossed over a few years before, The Knight led his force over the Keran range and into Davar. He suffered several frustrating losses traveling along the treacherous road, losing several Ramids to the cold and slippery conditions, and nearly 1000 soldiers in an avalance believed to be set off by Ardan’s soldiers.
(-10 Armoured Ramids, -1000 Militia)

Just before exiting the mountains and entering the Davian uplands, a ragtag Army of Ardan confronted his force. Despite poor training and numbers, they held off Khemri’s force for several weeks before Khemri managed to sneak their Royal Guards behind them and rout the defenders.

Meanwhile, The Void led his joint Kalmar/Khemri force northwards from Kalmar. Finding no large armies in his way, his forces spread out and quickly subjugated southern Davar. As order collapsed around them like a house of burning toothpicks (try it some time), the government of the Union of Ardan evacuated their holy capital and reestablished their government in Vael Dash.
(-1000 Kalmar Axemen, -1000 Khemri Royal Guards)

Update 25- Years 1631 to 1677: Blademaster's Strike- Continued

Such is the state of the northern portion of the War of the White Rose, and the various wars spawned because of it. Now, for the southern portion:

The first act in the war in the south was the Blockade of the Kehex Sea by Veritas and Ardan. Khemri’s fleet retreated before them, making no attempts to engage them. The Oneist navy continued its cautious advance further into the sea, and sent a small force up the lower Wardash to harass Khemri’s supply routes in Old Veritas.

Shortly after the move up the Wardash, Veritas made its first major move. Landings were simultaneously made at Dysonis and Andama. The local Khemri commander received word at Dysonis, but information from Andama was delayed, presumably due to White Rose agents causing trouble for Khemri’s messenger system.

The force at Dysonis was quickly annihilated, possibly helped to the large Khemri civilian presence in the area. However, the northern force was given a chance to establish, and was reinforced by the Kalmar forces and volunteers who had deserted during The Void’s loyalty check shortly before.

The Khemri commander’s numerically superior force arrived a few days after their victory at Dysonis. The two armies met between Lux and Andama, just outside of a small village named Terias. The battle was roughly equal at first. Veritas’ lighter and more mobile force attempted to flank or outmaneuver Khemri’s stronger but generally less mobile troops (with the exception of the Horse Archers, of course). Veritas revealed its new secret weapon a few minutes into the battle. Colossal, hairy beasts twice as tall as a man, with long gangly arms, deadly blades and maces strapped to each. This group of Yeti, dubbed ‘White Ghosts’, were massive creatures from the wastes north of Norvalin were horrifically powerful shock troopers. After losing fighters to them and nearly losing control of their fearful force, Khemri began to fight back logically. Becoming injured, several Yeti went berserk, as often against the Valins as against Khemri. Still quite early in the battle, 7 of the Yeti had been killed in their frenzies, and one had fled the battle. Two proved to be calm, and continued to fight alongside their masters.

As the fighting ground on, Khemri’s advantage of numbers became larger and larger. Until, without warning, a new attack hit Khemri’s rear.

Stratikrator Xenophon, who had managed to escape from his previous defeat, led a mixed force of over 11 000 in a huge assault.

Khemri’s Royal Guards clashed with thousands of Urban Militia and mixed Valin cavalry and infantry. Horse Archers were sent in sweeping moves to take out many of the more lightly-defended Militia.

Once again, the battle was equal. Too equal. Thousands of men were dropping on both sides, but neither was backing down. With one powerful stroke, a charge of Crystal Knights broke apart the landing force from Andama, forcing it to retreat. However, at the same time, Xenophon struck. The weakened force from Khemri wavered, and a blow was struck at its center. Many Crystal Knights got caught in a swarm of infantry and were killed. The remainder of Khemri’s army in the area, not wanting to lose all of Tellium to the Valins, retreated. In their retreat, they collapsed the mines outside of Lux (no one was inside at the time), denying their use to the enemy. Veritas had won the Battle of Terias, but at a horrible cost.
(-14 000 Levees, -3000 Horse Archers, -3000 Royal Guard, -2000 Crystal Knights, -6000 Urban Militia, -2000 Rose Knights, -1000 Palantoi, -2500 Scimitari, -500 Latismen, -1000 Pelarioi, -8 Yeti)

Meanwhile, the Oneist fleet made a move into the Kehexou archipelago. Whether by accident or elaborate plan, it collided with a large part of Khemri’s fleet in a narrow straight. Clearly not wanting a fight in such a situation, the Khemri admiral fled, only engaging a few aggressive Valin galleys. The Oneist fleet gave pursuit. Several distractions left by Khemri’s fleet delayed their pursuers, but Veritas and Ardan caught up. Khemri’s fleet, nearly out of the archipelago, split up. One part escaped into the open ocean, but another took a wrong turn, and found itself trapped in a bay. Sending out some ships to pursue, a large portion of the Oneist fleet advanced on the trapped Khemri vessels.

Then, in an instant, the predator became the prey.

Great chains rose out of the water, trapping a large number of Oneist ships. Many hit raised chains and suffered huge damage to the rigging. Others hit in the hull and bounced off, or cracked.

With a large part of the fleet trapped, the chains began to close in on each other, forcing the ships into each other. Some looking around revealed ramids on the shorelines attached to the chains, pulling them tighter at the encouragement of their handlers. Now was when Khemri’s ‘fleeing’ fleet returned and began to attack the Oneists.

With much of their fleet caught in a constricting trap, the Oneists’ 2:1 numerical advantage was practically reversed. Khemri’s smaller vessels engaged many of the free Oneist ships, while trebuchets hidden on the shore and other siege weapons on Tridents bombarded the trapped ships.

Due to taking place in such a contained space, the battle quickly became a dense, chaotic place. This proved to be an advantage for the Oneists, who had trained many of their forces for marine warfare. They also managed to deal major damage with their fire galleys, which Khemri was unable to maneuver away from in many cases.

While Khemri and Veritas battled outside of the bay, the Khemri force inside the bay was working to destroy the Valins as fast as possible. They had immobilized and seriously damaged many ships. Forces on the shore and quick work by the Ramids had made landings on the shoreline nearly impossible, though the Valins made many spirited attempts.

Eventually, the trapped ships were all destroyed by long-range bombardment, though their archers and ship-based siege weapons managed to do some damage to their attackers. With most of the Oneist fleet sunk, the chains were lowered and the two Khemri forces were able to reunite and drive off the surviving enemies.

The Battle of Geddex (as the island which held the bay which the battle took place in is named) was the largest and costliest naval battle ever to occur up to this point. 255 ships in total were involved, and all but 65 would never sail again. It was a victory for Khemri, but one of horrific costs.
(-20 Khemri Bimarines, -20 Tridents, -30 Galleys, -45 Davian (Ardanese, UoA, whatever) Jyuphia, -50 Veritasian Septaremes, -10 Triremes, -15 Galleys, -1000 Scimitari, -1000 Latismen)

However, the Oneists did get a weak last laugh. The Davian fleet raced for Khadon after its defeat, bringing the surviving Valins with them, and wrecked havoc on the docks of Khadon before fleeing when Khemri’s River fleet came to confront them. Their bold raid caused a temporary shock in Khemri, as it caused people to believe that their fleet had been defeated. However, celebrations broke out throughout the Kingdom when word reached them of the truth.
(+Khemri Confidence)

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/59597/GEDDEX.jpg

Skilv’so continues on, unbothered by external events ‘on the other ocean’. The religions of Otornosiasm and Masra grow in popularity.

Myocaca, for the most part, develops economically. Its lands are becoming more heavily worked and productive, and new ports are opening up for trade with Guangfei and the south. However, the new naval trade has yet to pick up greatly.
(+1 New Region)

Resistance in the occupied region of New Veritas has been largely stomped out by Myocaca. Oneists there behave better, for fear that the Swades will be called in to ‘deal with them’.

The Swade Ascendancy has undergone the most drastic war preparations of all time. Over 100 000 men have been brought into the army. While raising a huge force for the Swades, it has almost instantly caused massive economic damage and famine.
(-2 Regions, -3 Economic Points for Next Update, -1 Confidence)

Throughout the nation, a new doctrine is being circulated by the government of Evern III Wilipi. It reads as follows:

“People of the Swade and Bladeist Stock……It is the calling of the Blademaster that the Oneists be no more. Like we did in Redemption, the best and only solution to the Oneist Plague is to Purge them. Therefore, you will take no prisoners in the conflict with the Oneists, you will make no distinction between Warrior and Innocents, because All Oneists are Heretic Warriors that would kill you if you had the chance. You must burn their villages, kill their children and women and men, and you must be vigilant in doing so. Pity and mercy should be driven from your heart whence you slay a Oneist. Slaughter them like the pigs they are!........The Ascendant Master is also offering 100 Swadris for every 100 Oneist heads that are brought to the capital by a Civilian in this conflict. If your Neighbor is a Oneist, it is your Divine duty to slaughter his family and burn his house, and take his animals as your own.”

The Bladeists were quick to act in response to the Doctrine. All of the remaining Oneists in New Veritas were put to death. The same happened in Sintonia and Myocacan New Veritas, though the same army was responsible every time.

At the same time, a fleet was sent to invade Exilsium. For reasons not yet understood the fleet managed to evade all Valin observers until only two days before it landed.

The first landing was made at the city of Falas, where most of the defenses had been prepared. Several cavalry charges destroyed the first few waves of attack, but they eventually tired and the Swades established a beachhead. As more and more troops poured in, the situation became untenable and the army and population fled northwards.

The second landing took place at the southwestern tip of Exilsium. It quickly advanced with virtually no resistance, purging all civilian life they saw. Their first battle was against a tiny militia at Solin, and it was a massive Bladeist victory. The city was purged, and rechristened as ‘Afettoh’, the base of operations for the invasion. Troops began advancing northwards towards Pax.

Here, the offensive stalled. Huge numbers of militia volunteered for Veritas, and defenses were set up at Danalas and in the mountains. Exilsium still stands, though its existence is tenuous.
(-10 000 Swade Conscript Swordsmen, -1000 Swordsmen of Divine Enlightenment, -1000 Urban Militia, -1000 Pelarioi, -a bunch of Civilian Militia)

Another attack struck at the beating heart of the Valin people- the ancient and holy city of Veritas itself. The attack came at night. The defenses there were minimal as Xenophon’s forces were on the mainland, and the enemy fleet was mostly underwater in the Kehexou Archipelago.

A beachhead was established outside of the city, and then, just before dawn, they attacked.

Pouring through the streets of the city, they raided into every house, indiscriminately slaughtering everyone they saw. Many were, in fact, not even Oneist, but Aegyptian settlers, as they later discovered. Fires were lit, and ancient monuments destroyed and defiled.

Resistance groups fought against the invaders for several days, but were eventually killed off. At the end of a week, Veritas was a smoking ruin. There were no known survivors.

At this point, a ship of Swade priests and engineers arrived, to begin building a monument to Bladeism at the holiest point of their enemy. The sack of Redemption pales in comparison to this.
(-City of Veritas, -10 000 Swade Conscript Swordsmen)

Finally came one of the most unexpected actions. Military incursions into Myocaca proper. It was quickly revealed not to be an invasion per se, but an action designed to kill all of Myocaca’s Oneist population.

Regardless, Myocaca was infuriated. It didn’t take any official action, but many of its people acted out of compassion for the Emorans and helped them to escape. Many fled to Aryie and the Qingdao region of Guangfei, others fled northwards to Veritas, Khemri, and Kalmar. One group even established itself in a chaotic region of southeastern Gorin.

Ultimately, the Swades succeeded in their written goal: Get rid of the Myocacan Oneists. However, they have brought international criticism and disdain to themselves for their actions, and may have just lost their only true friend in the world.
(Myocaca’s Oneist Population Disperses)

Aryie has grown into a well-developed city-state. It has become a center of peaceful thinking, philosophy, and prosperity, a ‘Island of Peace in a Sea of Chaos’. However, it is being constantly pressured by the Swades to kill off all of its Oneists. Locals recommend the construction of city defenses sometime in the future.
(+Karholm Cultural Center)

Sintonia has settled down, and was preparing to have a peaceful and productive relationship with the Oneists in their territory until the Swades arrived and killed them all.
(-1 Economic Point Next turn)

Guarela and Gerougia hear vague rumours of events to the north, and both privately note that they will never let this happen in their own lands. Both nations expand slowly, quietly and peacefully.

Guangfei has continued its post-war state of prosperity. The Statues of Jianking have been rebuilt from rubble.
(+Jianking restored as Religious Center)

Guangfei also begins a national census (quite the tricky job) and opens the Imperial Academies of Science and Medicine. Roads have been built to Qingdao from Hangshei, perfectly timed, as people were about to start asking for one. Criminals, deserters, and general undesirables were the constructors of the road, as per Guangfei tradition. The road quality in the Dadong mountains, however, remains in question.

Friendly relations have been established with Rozan, and inquiries have been made into its history. They were a Trinlinist tribe in competition with several others, and one generation ago a great leader named Cozair led the Rozan to victory over their enemies and to nationhood.

Guangfei has established a ban of Bladeist missionaries in the country, and has instated a ‘Bladeist Tax’, where they have to pay huge amounts of their income to the government, plus all of their children after their firstborn.

In Shangei, a new faith known as ‘Tzu’ as appeared. Little detail is known of it by most outsiders, but it appears to be a monotheistic extrapolation of traditional Guangfei and Shangei beliefs.

Guangfei's campaign against the Bladeist protostates has come to its completion. They were weakened earlier, and no help reached them from outside. A quick strike against each of them was
(-500 Ma Bing, -1000 Recruits)

Magland and Destre remain peaceful, and expand towards the frozen ices of the south.

At this time, we can see great shifts taking place around the world. The Oneist nations are almost universally in a state of decline. Gorin is on the verge of collapsing into anarchy, being torn in several directions simultaneously. Khemri remains powerful, and has managed to reassert control in the constant war for naval dominance. The Bladeists are more powerful now than ever, but can it be sustained?

Finally, a strange illness has recently appeared in Swade territory. It quickly spread to Myocaca, just as the Emorans were evacuating the country… it remains to be seen whether they have brought the illness with them. We shall see soon enough.

Notes:

Most people who called up levees, conscripts, volunteers etc: Your guys were part of the update, I just didn’t mention them statistically. If they are in the stats, it means that there’s something distinguishing about them, like the fact that they have been given some training by the government or are better-organized.

The area of southeastern Gorin which is white is not rebelling, the government simply doesn’t exist there, due to Teos’ campaign. It will require only a few token troops or settlers to reestablish control of the area.

No, neither the Free City of Tigot nor the Nkondi rebels have stats. Tigot is too weak to even make it worthwhile. Assume every number is ‘0’. As for Nkondi, they should be rebellion white, but I wanted to distinguish them from the Lengel rebels.

Heheh, I love the butterfly effect. So many side wars caused because Veritas wanted its homeland back. :p

I picture the Yetis looking like the Yetis from Zoo Tycoon, if any of you ever played that game: About 10 feet tall, gangly, pot-bellied, hairy every where except parts of the foot, hands, part of the chest, and face. The exposed skin is bluish in colour.

Anyone ever been down the inside passage? Skagway, Alaska to Seattle, Oregon. Lots of fjords, semitropical foliage, foggy… that’s how I picture the area around Kehexou to be.

Geddex is the island to the southeast of the Island of Alaxau (Religious Center). The northern island you see on the closeup map is one that’s too small to be shown on the world map.

Possible PoD of the Update: Poorly-Made Chains :p

EDIT: BTW, the scale on the map is 1 cm : 100 m

Revenge of the Map

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/59597/MAP25.png

Phew, that was tough. But tomorrow I can play Need for Speed and SSBM with my friends! And watch the second week of the games.

I've finished the stats, but I'm not going to do stat things until tomorrow.

AHHHHHHH AWESOME UPDATE!! *goes crazy*

From the Gorinese Empire
To Merhia

Surrender and you and your Lengel brothers will not be harmed any further.

To the Lengel Rebellion

Surrender and the Lord Kaiser will assure the safety of your people from the group that seek your destruction. The leaders of your rebellion will surrender themselves to the Empire to ensure this.

To the Nkondi

Surrender, and the Nkondi people will not be harmed. Your leaders will give themselves up to the Gorinese Empire immediately though, in order to ensure this.

Ahhh so releived, and yes that would be a brilliant POD.

Still intact and next turn i get another 3 trade centres. I might survive this yet.

oh just as an aside, do the Valin states wish to come to a humiliating peace treaty? ;)

OOC: non-subtle bump....soo happy.

Ohhh carp. Iggy, do you have my orders still?

Yes I do 'zash.

*sigh*

At least I sacked Gorin. Nevertheless, great update Iggy. Just a bit annoyed about Kalmar. Thanks Panda!

Never surrender!

The Kalmar forces were led by a Khemri General, and what's happening to you is vastly preferable to what's happening to Veritas. Davar has been lost before.

The Kalmar forces were led by a Khemri General, and what's happening to you is vastly preferable to what's happening to Veritas. Davar has been lost before.

A very resolute Commander :p

twas a good update.

But did my diplomats and missionairies reach chancotol and Sanx? I converted some people in Tuatha but none in the others and im unsure if they translated their languages
And did the exchange of missionaries take place between Banism and Ezamri.

Is the Citadel still blockading me? I have no idea

twas a good update.

But did my diplomats and missionairies reach chancotol and Sanx? I converted some people in Tuatha but none in the others and im unsure if they translated their languages
And did the exchange of missionaries take place between Banism and Ezamri.

Is the Citadel still blockading me? I have no idea
I didn't put anything in my orders about it, but I never explicitly stopped it. It's up to Iggy.

To: Swade
From: Myocaca

You foolish man! I curse you forever. You will burn in the fires of hell for your deed. A duty of a king is to protect not kill. I proclaim, all oneists who formally lived in myocaca are guaranteed absolute protection in our lands. You will be granted back your homes and reinbursed. One of my generals is a oneist and he led an attack upon the Veritas scum. You are blind. You point fingers at enemies. All Swade are banished from Myocaca forever. All the clergy sent back in boxes. Myocaca from this day forth cannot follow murderers. As Archbishop of the church I do not declare war on Swade, our alliance will be sustained, but in terms of your presence in my country you are banned. Fight me if you will, but you are pathetic. You killed lives who fought beside myocacans for years. Leave now!!!!

Rogalius Dorn stood, his horse at his side, and his soldiers beside him. The village was in flames. Dead lay everywhere. They had been a part of a caravan headed out west to the newly opened lands. They had been slaughtered. The small ramids lay dead the wagon and its contents burned.

Dorn noticed a dead soldier, Swade. "Atleast they gave them some type of fight."

Dorn still remembered the day the message had come. The day the world was turned upside down. The King had received the message had come. With disbelief the Swade guard had entered the palace grabbing oneist officials.

General Dorn had lifted his guard but the priest ordered him to place down his weapons. "You must allow us to purge these heretics. They seek to undermine your king and all others."

"But this is madness!"

"It is the will of the Blademaster."

"No it is the will of some king or council. This is Myocaca not Swade. Gt out of here."

"Your King seems to have no problem with this."

"My lord allow me to escort these mad men out of here. Sir!"

The King spoke, "Rogalius, calm yourself. There is nothing I can do."

"Yes there is. You must find a way!"

"I can't." The King's head slouched his body went limp. His goblet fell from his hand. Rogalius ran up to try and wake his lord. As he heard the screaming all around him, he cried.

---------------------------------------------------

Five weeks later the King was still sick. Unable to do anything. Rogalius was head general but he would not dare leave the King's side. General Sunez walked in.

"I just returned from sea, What is going on here."

"You must leave...you are oneist, they will kill you..."

"Rogalius get up! You cannot be in this dark room, our lord has his family to comfort him, in the meantime we must run the country, it is the only way. Now tell me what is going on!"

"They are killing all oneists."

"Who is they?"

"Swade, but how can we stand against them."

"How many are left?"

"I don't know, most have fled, Swithrine managed to transport most out of harms way. Perhaps 2000 are left who knows."

"Where are they? You must tell me."

Most went to Aronellia, but they aren't safe there, a massive army is marching there soon."

"Come... I will gather my army of Yu-Yan. We are going there."

"What do you expect to do, fight Swade"

"Yes Rogalius, that is exactly what I expect to do. The King will wake up, and when he does he will know that two of his generals died to defend his people. And he will know something must be done. He will know Swade actions cannot be tolerated. The Bladeist Civil War is near my friend. We will not see its end, but we will begin it."

"You want to start a civil war."

"We have not innitiated this conflict, Swade has, they have spilt needless blood. I cannot tolerate it. My people have been persecuted, but in MYocaca we found sanctuary and Swade has openly violated Myocaca sovereignty. It cannot be tolerated. It will end in bloodshed as it has started. Thousands will be killed, but hundreds of years of death will come to an end now my friend. War comes now. We will do what Myocaca should have done at its creation. Fight back and fight for freedom. I know I will die, and you do not have to join me, but promise me that you will not allow this to be forgotten. Let all know that 2500 oneists gave their last breath to defend freedom and Myocaca"

Grasping Sunez's shoulder Rogalius siad, "Kill for the living..."

"And kill for the dead"

"We will meet again, and then we will have a good drink."

"If I kill the most swadist bastard you are paying."

"I'll see you on the battlefield." Sunez walked out of the room. No one knew it yet but a declaration of war had been signed.

Officially claiming Magland.

OOC: and all goes according to my plan.. *Insert Evil laugh*

To All nations, except the Swade.
From Lady Asuka, High Priestess of the Path of God, Welder of the Her'rim, Third Sword of the Blademaster.

The Swade have fallen from the Light of God, and have embraced the darkness, as Eldrania did so long ago at the dawn of history. they have complicated Genocide, and carried through with the act. Not even Vertis, at it's worst, ever considered this an option.
How long will it be before they take the next step into the darkness, and embrace it fully, disdaining the rest of us as even being human, and deciding to enslave the world under their rule?
Perhaps we should act now against them, and disperse their leaders to the more wise and less violent leaders of Myocaca, who still stand in the light of their version of God, the Blademaster. For if we do not act soon enough, this will only end the way it did with Eldrania.
And do we want our hands to once again be stained by the taint of genocide?

To Myocaca
From Lady Asuka
Some may wish to return, and for this, we thank you for your offer. But this is perhaps for the best, for now the Path of God has been dispersed to the winds, where we may spread and lend our wisdom to the world at large.

The Citadel of Knowledge condemns the actions of the Swades in the strongest terms possible. No man has such little value that it is permissible to kill him. No race is universally evil.

The Governor of Exilsium throws dead sea turtles at the advancing swade forces and warns them not to touch the tropical fruit plantations.

The Citadel of Knowledge reminds the people of Exilsium that Farport is a free city. Any refugees fleeing to it will be welcomed and sheltered until such time that they may return to their homes.

OOC: Iggy, no trade center in Iolar Geimhread? Bah! *Struggles to work with 2 measly econ. points*

Ngh, and I forgot to include "And attack if scouts report the pirate's positions weak" in the orders ... d'oh.


TO: Kelios
FROM: Jara the Uniter, First Emperor of Syracia

A free flow of trade can only benefit the both of our nations. We propose an expansion in the exchange of goods between us, and the construction of a road reaching to our shared border to handle the increased commerce.

Yes! Not only did I get two sentences, but a whole paragraph! Yay! ^^ I get refugees, who are of course welcomed into Aryie and allowed to live well and prosper. It's like, the Enlightenment, except, not really :o

--

Prince Zekat of the Bladeist religion would like to remind the Swades that although there may be heathens in the world, the Blademaster will see to their divine retribution in the end. Attempting to do the Blademaster's job is thinking too highly of yourself.

Edit: Although you have embarked on this purge, the Swades will still be allowed in Aryie. We believe in toleration of no views. Although we do not agree with your message, we believe in your right to say it.

From Croyodon
To All Nations in War

Croyodon will open her borders to nations fleeing religious prosecution and intolerance. We are an open society and respect the faiths of all peoples. We are a land far from the fighting but if you can make the journey here you are welcome to stay. Many people living in the borders of Gorin fleeing from the constant threat of death are welcome to settle in Croyodon.

From Croyodon
To Gorin

We will send forces to help reestablish order within your empire. After this, however, we are canceling our alliance. It is no longer in the best interests of our people to be allied with your empire. We wish to remain neutral and peacefully build up our society. Our country will respect the wishes that Masra remain dominant but we no longer feel a full military alliance is necessary anymore.

We will cooperate and continue to trade peacefully when in the best interests of both our kingdoms and empires.

Edit: Nice Update Iggy

From The Gorinese Emore
To Croyodon

Very well, the Lord Kaiser sees no reason to object.

The Swade Ambassador is banished from the Empire of Guangfei. All Swades are ordered to exit the country on penalty of death. Any further Swades attempting to enter the country will be meet with death.

OOC: Just a little comment iggy, but where is my eco region expansion? You promised "growth around the corner!" ;) It's been 46 years! And if the stats are updated, which I'm not sure, then Guangfei should have 9 income due to the increase from Jianking ;)

OOC: That update was Amazing!!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG!!!!!! Iggy is teh rock.

If Lord Iggy was a Herbal Tea, i would dirnk him every day, by the plantations that grow him, and make millions selling him to Guangfei.

The Yeti remind me of a Northern, less-evolved version of the original Ascendant Bloodline.

IC:

To: Myocaca
From: The Swade Ascendancy

We understand your outrage, but if your friend had a disease festering in him and refused to treat it, would you not take the nessacery action to save him? We apologize if you didn't want to be cured, but we had to save you. This talk of Bladeist Civil War is nonsense. We have withdrawn from your territory. If you really want blood to settle this, help us attack The Oneists or let us have an Epic between our two rulers. If you have forgotten what an Epic is, it is a Bladeist Way of settling big disputes that require blood repayment. Trancribed in the Holy Books, it involves representatives of the two parties getting in a ring with only a sword and nothing else and battling it out until the death or someone surrenders or gives up. If our rulers were to face off on top of the Swade Necropolis, all this could be solved.


To: Lady Asuka
From: The Swade Ascendancy

You fool. Your people shall not live for much longer. You use the Blademasters name falsely in your title. The Ascendant Master Challenges you to an Epic on top of the Swade Necropolis. We garuntee your saftey until the match starts. You dishonor us, but we keep with our code of Honor.

To: The Citadel of Knowledge
From: The Swade Ascendancy

We understand your view of the events, but we ask you see things through our eyes. Since our inception, the Oneists have tried to destroy us and have dishonored and defiled us on many occassions. Because of their illegal invasion of Sintonia, we were too distracted to stop the Bronze Blademaster from being sacked. Because of their ruthless ways, huge amounts of our people have died.. We have tried to give them chances, but their hubris impedes this. Thusly, we have no choice but to wipe them from the face of the earth. They attempted to have us betray our ally and give them the land so many of our ansestors died upon. We assure you that we don't intend to do this with other Heathens, only the Heretic Oneists. The World will be purified, we ask only you don't stand in the way.

To: Prince Zekat
From: The Swade Ascendancy

We respect your neutrality, but be warned, when the time comes, your Oneist population must be dealt with. We pray to the Blademaster you are the ones who do it.

To: The Citadel of Knowledge
From: The Swade Ascendancy

We understand your view of the events, but we ask you see things through our eyes. Since our inception, the Oneists have tried to destroy us and have dishonored and defiled us on many occassions. Because of their illegal invasion of Sintonia, we were too distracted to stop the Bronze Blademaster from being sacked. Because of their ruthless ways, huge amounts of our people have died.. We have tried to give them chances, but their hubris impedes this. Thusly, we have no choice but to wipe them from the face of the earth. They attempted to have us betray our ally and give them the land so many of our ansestors died upon. We assure you that we don't intend to do this with other Heathens, only the Heretic Oneists. The World will be purified, we ask only you don't stand in the way.

There is a fundamental logical error in your statement. It is the leaders of the Oneists who have "dishonored and defiled" you, and sacked the Bronze Blademaster. Even if the leaders of the Oneists have been "ruthless", have rejected "chances", have wallowed in "hubris", the common people certainly have not. Your "solution" is like chopping off a finger to get rid of a broken fingernail. Why do you exterminate the common people, who are everywhere the same, everywhere desire peace, everywhere are loyal and true? For their leaders supposed crimes, you attack the commoners. Where is the logic in this? Where is the sense in this? Where in this scheme is there anything other than inaccuracy, misjudgement, and insanity?

OOC: Swiss, Guangfei makes the tea and drinks it. Not some other place :p

OOC: BTW, Oneism is now only present in 5 countries with a maximum of 2,490,500 adherents assuming there were the maximum number of people for each population bracket of each country

Bladeism is also present in 5 countries with a maximum of 3,534,500 adherents

Unable to reply to my briliant arguments, Swiss? ;)

To: Lady Asuka
From: The Swade Ascendancy

You fool. Your people shall not live for much longer. You use the Blademasters name falsely in your title. The Ascendant Master Challenges you to an Epic on top of the Swade Necropolis. We garuntee your saftey until the match starts. You dishonor us, but we keep with our code of Honor.


To the Accendent Master
I accept your challenge on the sing condition, that should I win, I will be allowed to return safely to the city of Kexoudau, unmolested by your troops, where I now make my home.
if you agree to this, I will arrive at the Swade Necropolis in three months time.
I wish you well in this epic battle, ask that you do not hold back, for if you do, you WILL lose.
Signed Lady Asuka, High Priestess of the Path of God, Welder of the Her'rim, Third Sword of the Blademaster.

OOC: oohh, an Epic class sword battle! she is worthy of the sword she weilds Swiss. the Sole De'Quirm blade left in Emorian Possession. she is an Expert Swords women, and weilds the Her'rim. she is not a pushover, and the battle will likely last 2-3 hours, no matter who wins in the end. If eather of them win that is. I would say each has about a 25% chance of wining, and a 50% chance of the both Dying in the conflict.

Two-three hours? More like 15 minutes of slapping the woman silly, followed by 10 minutes of raping her and killing her by breaking her windpipe in a record of one minute.

Seriously women + fighting = no good.

... Cleric Please don't insult the human race with such coments. Anyone can be good at fighting if they put enough time into training.

No, no they cant. The whole your special thing and you can win if you try hard enough is bs. Only a few actually have the genes or willpower to be good.

... and you go off on a weird tangent tossing in bits of data that do not have relvence. She has been trained in the use of the sword since she could walk. she is a MASTER Swordwoman. I will not go into Quibbling over Idiolgy that is behind your argument, since that would drag this out into a flame war.

besides, this is a story. while realism is crucial to it, I have not broken that, just pushed it to one of it's extreme corner for the sake of dramatics.

wasn't it the nurmafer who destroyed the bronze statue? continuation of the story will come later

... and you go off on a weird tangent tossing in bits of data that do not have relvence. She has been trained in the use of the sword since she could walk. she is a MASTER Swordwoman. I will not go into Quibbling over Idiolgy that is behind your argument, since that would drag this out into a flame war.

besides, this is a story. while realism is crucial to it, I have not broken that, just pushed it to one of it's extreme corner for the sake of dramatics.

Yes, yes the story is all that matters. Still I am placing 10 kiwis on the Blademaster as it's obvious he will wtfpwn the woman.

can we bet on both?

twas a good update.

But did my diplomats and missionairies reach chancotol and Sanx? I converted some people in Tuatha but none in the others and im unsure if they translated their languages
And did the exchange of missionaries take place between Banism and Ezamri.

Is the Citadel still blockading me? I have no idea

Officially claiming Magland.

The Citadel of Knowledge reminds the people of Exilsium that Farport is a free city. Any refugees fleeing to it will be welcomed and sheltered until such time that they may return to their homes.The Swades almost misunderstood their orders and invaded Farport as their base. (Swiss forgot his map and said 'invade the little island near the main island of Exilsium)

OOC: Iggy, no trade center in Iolar Geimhread? Bah! *Struggles to work with 2 measly econ. points*

Ngh, and I forgot to include "And attack if scouts report the pirate's positions weak" in the orders ... d'oh.


TO: Kelios
FROM: Jara the Uniter, First Emperor of Syracia

A free flow of trade can only benefit the both of our nations. We propose an expansion in the exchange of goods between us, and the construction of a road reaching to our shared border to handle the increased commerce.If the costs will be equally split, we will do this.

The Swade Ambassador is banished from the Empire of Guangfei. All Swades are ordered to exit the country on penalty of death. Any further Swades attempting to enter the country will be meet with death.

OOC: Just a little comment iggy, but where is my eco region expansion? You promised "growth around the corner!" ;) It's been 46 years! And if the stats are updated, which I'm not sure, then Guangfei should have 9 income due to the increase from Jianking ;)Fixed. And you'll get another region once the Bladeist region settles down. What is to be done with the Bladeists who you've conquered?

Do you guys want the fight solved story-fashion, or in a mini-update, or in the next update?

OOC: To Jala and Terris, i posted my post before i saw yours. I will respond once i finish this damned essay Jala

And Nurmafer destroyed the statue because we had wasted our manpower having to occupy New Veritas and sue for a favorable peace.

IC: We accept the Challenge and terms of The Heretic Lady Who is Bad with the Sword.

All Bets begin at 1 EP and are payable to The Swade Ascendancy

edit: Iggy, i prefer it in the Update

you serious swiss? cause that means if we win, the house pays us, the house is you

uhh yeah, and I can break the house by betting both ways, you still can't cover it....

I was kidding Ken

The Swades almost misunderstood their orders and invaded Farport as their base. (Swiss forgot his map and said 'invade the little island near the main island of Exilsium)
That would have been...interesting...

Did you decide whether or not I'm still blockading Emu?

Also, SEND ME MY PM!!!!

Fixed. And you'll get another region once the Bladeist region settles down. What is to be done with the Bladeists who you've conquered?

I guess... But it would be nice if the southern Han province of Wanbei became their well, own region ;)

And about the Bladeists? One will have to ask our favorite Han Royal Valin/Oneists Lover! Prince Liu Ming! :p

And really, have the war resolved in a mini-update. I don't want the whole obsession with the War of the White Rose to take up all your time and etc in the full update next time!!! :mad:

I guess... But it would be nice if the southern Han province of Wanbei became their well, own region ;)

And about the Bladeists? One will have to ask our favorite Han Royal Valin/Oneists Lover! Prince Liu Ming! :p

And really, have the war resolved in a mini-update. I don't want the whole obsession with the War of the White Rose to take up all your time and etc in the full update next time!!! :mad:

Actually, a minupdate to resolve the War would be cool, since its already gone one for 46 YEARS!!!!!!

And also, Liu Ming is probably dead.

And also, Liu Ming is probably dead.

OOC: Actually no. My stories are not written in a straight linear pattern so to speak. When I write my stories, they actually take place in the FUTURE of the update that had already happened, not during the update. :p

That would have been...interesting...

Did you decide whether or not I'm still blockading Emu?

Also, SEND ME MY PM!!!!You're half-heartedly blockading, but it has no real effect, as Adar is not at all reliant on trade. I'll send you a PM soon, I'm just not on my computer right now.

I guess... But it would be nice if the southern Han province of Wanbei became their well, own region ;)

And about the Bladeists? One will have to ask our favorite Han Royal Valin/Oneists Lover! Prince Liu Ming! :p

And really, have the war resolved in a mini-update. I don't want the whole obsession with the War of the White Rose to take up all your time and etc in the full update next time!!! :mad:Sorry alex. Hopefully it'll end soon.

Sorry alex. Hopefully it'll end soon.

OOC: Oh it's nothing really. It's just the conflict between RP and my own OOC desires *smashes head* Why did I invent a character like Liu Ming? *sigh* I'll send a PM of questions maybe tonight of course ;)

Ah yes, I'd almost forgot about those (clears PM box)

From: Stratikrator Xenophon
To: The Swade Ascendency

You'd have to slaughter every Oneist in the world before I stop fighting. And don't answer me with some annoying messenger saying "that can be arranged," or he'll come back with his arms lopped off, headless, and the seal of the Tree and Spear cauterized into his chest.

You have massacred children, put churches to the flame, and slaughtered innocent monks who devoted their lives to the praise of the One and the study of knowledge. That will be repaid in FULL.

The gloves are off. Even though no Veritasan soldier has ever, in the history of Tellus, stepped on your soil, your lands will be purged so effectively, and your people so completely dispersed to all corners of the world, that the Ascendency will become a footnote in the history of man so cursory, that historians will struggle to even find mention of you in the most obscure books.

Your God will search a thousand years, and never find any trace of your souls. For even as you writhe in torment, we will treat your people will tolerance and understanding. For that is our way.

From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: The World

We ask universally for your aid against these monsters. They are the ancient Eldranians reborn, a plague on all humanity.

From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: The Crown Prince of Guangfei

For the love of all that is holy, we beg that you declare war on the Swade!

From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: The Union of Ardan

We stand behind our allies in this difficult time, as we hope they stand behind us.

From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: The Citadel of Knoweldge

The Swades are the first nation on Tellus in centuries to (seriously consider) attacking and occupying your territory. They move to destroy an entire race of people, and the only other nation on earth that has proclaimed full tolerance for New Eldists.

Is there a point at which pacifists take up the sword to defend peace itself? At which ideals become worth the shedding of blood?

So can we start discussing Veritas and Davar surrender?

to me and Khemri... i dont care about swade and them, i want peace

The Citadel wasn't occupied by Swades. An order misunderstanding merely made them NEARLY do it.

The Citadel wasn't occupied by Swades. An order misunderstanding merely made them NEARLY do it.

Shhh!

Ok, fine, messenger edited.

@Ken: *sarcastic laugh, followed by crossbow firing*

ok, what about Davar?

Eh, we still have the Holy Hand Grenade of Pax. Not to mention other versions of it that I have concocted.

Eh, we still have the Holy Hand Grenade of Pax. Not to mention other versions of it that I have concocted.

Yeah, Cleric, I need you back as a full-time guerilla war consultant. ;)

Amazing update btw, Iggy.

OOC: As a side note iggy, since you're on your erm.. spring break, mind updating the Descriptions? ;) Some are ah... hopelessly obsolete :(

And for those interested, I will write the gripping and thrilling conclusion of my Prince story Arc after I finish a few stories for birdjaguar :D *feels important*

I'm assuming you're not going to answer my diplo then. Which indirectly means he dies, or gets taken out of power.

Shame, that.

If I answered you thlayli, there would be no point in writing a gripping and thrilling conclusion! :p

Thank you. It took slightly longer than all of my weekend. :p

TO: Kelios
FROM: Syracia

Agreed.

Davar will never surrender as long as inch of its territory is occupied. Take that as you wish.

ok :) xcl xcl

Yes ;]. I'm quite stubborn to coming off my failures in decent shape ;]. You guys will be seeing alot of me ;].

Remember Segu vs France...

Remember the preperations for a rebellion after a BT.....

(If you're spreaking bad of me, if not then, yeah! Remember Segu!!)

Remember Segu vs France...

And how in the end Segu DIED MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

But seriously, the War of the White Rose has been going on for like 88 years, so there should totally be a mini-update to wrap things up, or maybe just make the next update 22 years, and then we can call it the 100 Years War:p

Remember how the 10 rebellions Swiss started all died the second they surfaced?

No wrap up. I seriously want to fight to the blood end if needed. Swiss dies!

You don't "wrap up" a world war until one or all of the participants on one side dies.

But i don't want you guys to die. *sigh* If I ACTUALLY kill all the Oneists, who the hell is going to be my "mortal enemy". Guangfei? pfft, they're big and wierd. Not worthy of Mortal Enemy Status. The Nurmaferi? I already beat them into submission! Khemri? They're too like not aggresive enough to be an enemy.

In short, I need to Oneists to exist. Just in the New World. The Old World is your no more!

But i'm happy knowing i'm now the Biggest Religion! Boo-YAH!

Iggy, shouldn't a new thread becomeing up soon?

Hah- ignore my pwn Swiss.

Plus, I believe it was Khermi who killed Nurmafer- that and the fact he had 2 eco :rolleyes:

But i don't want you guys to die. *sigh* If I ACTUALLY kill all the Oneists, who the hell is going to be my "mortal enemy". Guangfei? pfft, they're big and wierd. Not worthy of Mortal Enemy Status. The Nurmaferi? I already beat them into submission! Khemri? They're too like not aggresive enough to be an enemy.

Touch a hair on a single subject of the Dragon Throne and I will send armies made up of 50k each at you. :scan: They will make what you did look like nothing, and I won't even be really damaged economically :p

I think Aryie is obviously the coolest country, because it is an "Island of Peace in a Sea of Chaos".

Sounds like a tourist advertisement thing! XD

Swiss, wait until United Kingdom of Khemri and Kehexou states it position on the matter before you declare victory. you just committed the greatest Faux pa a nation can commit in the NES. 1 bladeist nation has just split from your little coalition, One has Exiled your citizens from its lands and looks like they might actually break your alliance.

edit: nevermind :o

You can only pay 1 point per turn. You can pay more to rush, but it is highly inefficient.

Swiss, wait until United Kingdom of Khemri and Kehexou states it position on the matter before you declare victory. you just committed the greatest Faux pa a nation can commit in the NES. 1 bladeist nation has just split from your little coalition, One has Exiled your citizens from its lands and looks like they might actually break your alliance.
And? I don't see what you're getting at. I'm playing In Character. My Uber-Theocrat Fundementalist Bladeist Ascendant Master cares not what Guangfei thinks(though his Advisors do, they fear the Dragon Throne immensely and thus don't send the ramblings of the Master to them, only agree by silence to the moves they make), and I explained why IC I killed the Oneists in Myocaca. I excised a disease from a friend. They may not view it that way, but me and my subjects do so....:p

And I would be quite surprised if Kal did that. He knew of my actions. Don't underestimate the UKK, Kal is quite the good player.

You on the other hand, have 2000 people left scattered and there is a good likelyhood their only leader will die a horrible embarrassing death on top of my biggest still standing religious monument.

Swade=Win. 4 /\/0\/\/!

I'll even concede i probably won't manage to kill all the Oneists. But no matter what happens I get to have fun in this game, so its all cool. Perhaps a revolution, perhaps a prophet, perhaps a reconciliation with the Oneists. Perhaps have have to stave off invaders from every directions until there are as many Swade left as Emorians. But that last one probably won't happen.

BTW, Terris, once Emor is gone, you should take Sintonia or something. Give your self a new chance. NESing is a game, have fun with it:p

You can only pay 1 point per turn. You can pay more to rush, but it is highly inefficient.
? For what?

Ehe. You razed Veritas twice, and Redemption once. You've got a mortal enemy.

Ehe. You razed Veritas twice, and Redemption once. You've got a mortal enemy.

For the Record, I didn't "raze" Redemption. I rounded up and systematically killed off everyone in it. All the Buildings and their possessions were left intact. Then i resettled Swade people there, who immediately took over.

For the Record, I didn't "raze" Redemption. I rounded up and systematically killed off everyone in it. All the Buildings and their possessions were left intact. Then i resettled Swade people there, who immediately took over.

Fair enough, though in your sack of the city and wanton slaughter of innocent civilians, I'm sure it was heavily damaged.

? For what?

Projects. There was some crossposting I believe.

really need to get the story up. and you do play like me for the fun of it swiss. like you, do not count me out just yet. the Emorians are just the trigger to my plan. my plans are much much bigger then them. they will shake the world.

Oh, and I would ask, how many emorian blades still exist in your nation. ask yourself that.

OOC: You know, I've just noticed that my heavy cavalry isn't up to the strength number for the Iron Age, why?

Clerical error.

*snickers very slightly*

Excerpt: Essays on the Southland: The Shadowed Path, Citadel Archives, Southport

The Great Sin perpetrated against the Oneist people by the Swade sent waves of change across the world. Most of these dealt with by historians deal with the wars of Tellus and the actions of the Great Kingdoms. Yet far to the South, in a land untouched by the grand scale of war seen in the Old World, there existed a miracle - the peaceful coexistence of religions.

As the most casual scholar of the Southern Peoples knows, there existed, since time immemorial, two peoples in the Southlands: the Gerougioikoi and the Guarelai. Both share a common attachment to an almost mythological belief in their origins - both consider themselves the descendants of great explorers and conquerors fleeing a craven peoples (admittedly, when one considers the similarity of culture, language, and religion between the Southrens and certain Old World peoples, it becomes fairly clear that their claims have some basis in reality). Both dealt with low population growth for most of their history and as such have developed ideas about war unique among all the nations studied by our scholars. They have a long and storied history together, one that is not without the occasional tussle, but one that has long been amiable for the most part.

The inability of either peoples to produce a force sufficient to dominate the other forced an atmosphere of tolerance and cooperation against the Barbaroi of the mainland and the nearby islands. Their languages have melded over the years and are virtually little more than dialects of one another. This symbiotic relationship has facilitated the exchange of ideas, both practical and theoretical, and resulted in a strikingly uniform school of philosophical thought. The result being that, although the two religions differed on particulars, they agreed more and more on fundamentals. Combine this with the aforementioned common enemy in the Barbaroi, and a coherent picture of the Southern Peace begins to emerge.

This history is instrumental the primary discussion of this essay - namely, the origin of Messianic Gnosticism. The horrors of the Old World genocide caused massive disillusionment among the Guarelai Bladeists. Theirs was not a religion of wholesale slaughter. They had been out of communion with Orthodox Bladeism for countless years, influenced by Gerougioikoi philosophy and religion for many of those years, and shared a common disgust for the events reaching their shores.

So it was that a great council of theologians was called in the Southlands. It was decided that God could only have allowed such a thing to happen if a change was desperately needed in the world. That change could not be the deaths of countless civilians, so it must be that they were received into Paradise that those left on Earth might more fully realize His true nature. It was determined that the revelations given to the Oneists/Kyriotheists were by and large compatible with those given to both the Bladeists and, most surprisingly, our own New Eldism. They, after much discussion, determined that God must necessarily contain all three aspects within his nature, that sometimes He was a God of peace and love (thus New Eldism), but sometimes war was necessary to defend the faithful and therefore practice with weaponry was a religious pursuit (Bladeism). Yet it was held through all that the primary purpose of God was neither. He was a noble warrior and peaceful priest, but He was something more than that. He was a liberator of men, something that transcended war and peace.

Thus it was prophesied that there would come a time when God would deliver his people from the evils of the world, release them from its self-destructive behavior, and set all things to rights. This Messiah would come one day to fulfill those scriptures taken by the council to be holy (mainly some rough translations of ancient Oneist and Bladeist texts themselves transcribed by memory, in addition to more recent revelation unique to the Southlands). This new faith was largely accepted by those who refused to believe that the God of Bladeism would have sanctioned the actions of the Swade, as well as by those who were philosophically concerned with the concept of limited revelation amongst foreign faiths. The religion swept over the Southlands like a flame and further bound the two realms together.

OOC: Kinda crappy, but its late. Oh well.

And how in the end Segu DIED MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

But seriously, the War of the White Rose has been going on for like 88 years, so there should totally be a mini-update to wrap things up, or maybe just make the next update 22 years, and then we can call it the 100 Years War:p

Um. Unless you're trying to be ironic because the actual Hundred Years War was slightly longer than one hundred years (which is doubtful, given your numbers), your numbers don't exactly add up.

Just saying so to be an arrogant jerk. :D

EDIT: Forgive the double posting, please.

@LB- Sometimes people forget to carry the one. :p

I think it's a good story.

@LB- Sometimes people forget to carry the one. :p

I think it's a good story.

Yeah I know, but my arrogant elitism refused to let that go unexposed :p

And thanks! I left it midway through for a couple hours while I went out and did stuff tonight, and when I got back (which is not more than 30ish minutes before writing this) it was quite late but I wanted to get it out anyway. The part that actually deals with the religion is sort of forced, as I was trying to get through it to go to sleep. Which I should really do now.

Ehe. You razed Veritas twice, and Redemption once. You've got a mortal enemy.

Such things are transient, I mean, the Khemrians don't care that you razed my capital...uhmm how many times? :p

and what position do people want from me? the one regarding the Swades killing Oneists? such Exterminations are quite common if you recall our history (NES history) I can think of at least 5 nations that have had large members of their population killed off.

Although I will note that is the Swade try to kill my swadists or Emorians they will lose friends rather rapidly. also Certain things need to be worked out which I will explain to him, *sigh*. (I'm a melting pot, I assimilate people, thats one of the MAIN functions of my religion!)

Resistance if Futile. You will be assimilated.

thats pretty much the extent of it

Oh Vaaaliins.....

@LittleBoots: "the Great Sin?" "a miracle?" You trying to determine my policy? :p

Iggy, I really do need my PM...

Yes I do 'zash.

Well, er, the point was you'd send them to me :p

I'll even concede i probably won't manage to kill all the Oneists. But no matter what happens I get to have fun in this game, so its all cool. Perhaps a revolution, perhaps a prophet, perhaps a reconciliation with the Oneists. Perhaps have have to stave off invaders from every directions until there are as many Swade left as Emorians. But that last one probably won't happen.


Swiss, everyone's quite sure that we're going to lose (myself included). However, the single fact shall remain: you won't survive this war intact. By hook or by crook, we will kill you. You've condemned your people to death with your little program. I will remain just long enough to make good on that promise. Yeah, you are fun to play with.

@LittleBoots: "the Great Sin?" "a miracle?" You trying to determine my policy? :p

A little bit. :D However, I always write as scholars from Southport who live among the Southrens and therefore naturally sympathize with them. Can't say I believe they'd think otherwise anyway ;)

To: Swade
From: Myocaca

Hah, you believe I would fall for your tricks. The Swade king is the greatest swordsman in the realm. Now a joust on bigjaur, horse, or ramid. I could handle that. But such a duel is suicide.

To: Swade
From: Myocaca

Hah, you believe I would fall for your tricks. The Swade king is the greatest swordsman in the realm. Now a joust on bigjaur, horse, or ramid. I could handle that. But such a duel is suicide.

OOC: Why bother with swords when you have massive numbers of crossbowmen? :p FYI, I hate you swiss. You gave me tons of useless Church of the One Followers which I HATE!!! :mad:

Clerical error.

*snickers very slightly*

Are you trying to imply something about the strength and war prowess of Asians... *narrow eyes*

really need to get the story up. and you do play like me for the fun of it swiss. like you, do not count me out just yet. the Emorians are just the trigger to my plan. my plans are much much bigger then them. they will shake the world.

Oh, and I would ask, how many emorian blades still exist in your nation. ask yourself that.

OOC: lol, none. Remember, you moved all the Emorians out of my nation as soon as we split up Emor. You went to Khemri and to Myocaca. Anyways, I would have expelled you. Gots to keep the purity.

And Kal, you should totally get to converting that 2% to Aegypt.

Dark, I try:)

Littleboots, there is already Messiah beleifs in Bladeism, as well as most of the books not being centered around war at all. The culture out describe is a Left one. The Blademaster has six swords held by his six arms. The Good Ones are on the Left, the Bad on the Right. Well its not good and bad, more of War and peace. Once i get back to my computer i look up what the swords of the left are, but i pretty sure its Creation, Prosperity/Wealth, and Peace. And BLADES are seen not only as tools of war, but also as tools that facilitate growth(sickles for grain, machetes for fruit), creation(The C-Section was pioneered by the Swade) and tools of Defense and Peace. I doubt they would outright convert, but instead they would practice a form of more Leftist Bladeism. I did like your story though, particularly because it shared aspects with one of the outcomes of this war.

IC:
To: Myocaca
From: The Swade Ascendancy

We accept your declining of the Epic. But we wish to reconcile our people peacefully. Perhaps we should hold an Epik Games, where nobles from each Bladeist Nation come and compete in Swordfighting, Blade Prayer Forms, Ramid and Bigjaur Jousting, Arrow Shooting and foot races. It could be held in Myocaca, and would rekindle the comraderie between our nations. Rulers would of course not compete.

We also extend an invitation for your Ruler to come and watch the Epic between The Ascendant Master and the Emorian Pretender. You would have front row seats in the Marble Visitors throne. Perhaps the Blademaster would bless you and allow the gore of the slain Emorian land upon you.

[QUOTE=alex994;5179347]OOC: Why bother with swords when you have massive numbers of crossbowmen? :p FYI, I hate you swiss. You gave me tons of useless Church of the One Followers which I HATE!!! :mad:
[\QUOTE]

We can solve that:mischief:

OOC: Why bother with swords when you have massive numbers of crossbowmen? :p FYI, I hate you swiss. You gave me tons of useless Church of the One Followers which I HATE!!! :mad:


We can solve that:mischief:

I see you actually responded to my quip this time :p

Btw Iggy, I hope you don't regret saying yes to that PM ;)

Writings of Maler
As transcribed by the Grand Servitor in the Year of Rising Horns

I woke in red of dawn's dead light
And unto me it was said by
Almighty Maler himself at
The dawn of final prophecy:

"Hearken, ye who would raise a land,
In this world there is no mercy
All favours granted by yeself
To yeself alone, for yeself alone

"Him who leaves ye alone, leave be,
He who speaks empty words to ye:
Let him see his doom in thy eyes
Persistence of his equals death

"In battle be fierce and mighty
Yet when ye bleed and yon foe bleeds
Respect must be given where due
Kindred in death, the pair of ye

"Love and joy are treasures 'pon us
To be shared in days when's great joy
In days of turmoil and battle
Only the High Servitor rules."

Jara!

Jewel of Syracia! Port of the Bay of Khemal! Capital of the Empire!

See the grand palace of the Emperor! (From the outside, beyond the perimeter wall, trespassers will be beheaded)

Touch the relics of Tsaya! (Gloves will be provided, one touch per person per relic, thieves will be beheaded)

Behold the ...

Lekar flattened himself hastily against a wall as a pushcart rumbled past downslope. The bustle and shouting of the dockyards lay heavy on the air along with the stench of fish and the other varied and interesting smells harbours tend to collect.

Listen to the damn criers you'd think the whole city was made of whitestone and gold, he groused to himself. Hah, I say. Hah!

With no further danger of being crushed, at least for the moment, the wiry little man pushed back out into the street and merged with the foot traffic, heading uphill. Who'd build a city of whitestone anyway? Cost a fortune just to keep scrubbing it clean. Such deep thoughts continued to occupy his mind as he fought his way across the lane to a seedy-looking tavern on the far side.

The interior was disappointingly well-lit and clean. Well, a tavern is a tavern. They have food, they have ale. Same the Empire over. Quite comfortably he settled into a stool along the bar. "Ale here! And the biggest portion you've got of whatever's hot ... or at least still warm."

The comely barmaid earned an appreciative once-over from Lekar as she brought his tankard, smiling as servers do. "Clothes of the countryside. Your first time in the Jewel of Syracia, meneer*?"

He snickered into his ale. "Don't give me that 'Jewel of Syracia' hogwash, girl, the place is a dump."

This drew a startled and indignant gasp from a bit further down the bar. Lekar's eyes idled over to look for whomever it was that gave such a reaction, and settled on an elderly-looking man nursing a goblet of Samhradhian wine. His eyes were met with a challenging stare, and the wiry little man got a sinking feeling that he was in for a lecture.

Indeed, the old geezer was getting up now, stalking closer. This is going to be fun ... "A dump? A dump, young man?! Do you have any idea of the history within these walls?" Lekar opened to his mouth to reply, but the elderly man kept right on talking; a fortunate thing, as he hadn't thought of a suitable response.

"This city was the first founded after the great Uniter Jara, may he have a long a prosperous life, finally secured these lands for us, and our children, and our children's children!" His voice rang with patriotic fervor. Lekar was more interested in the platter of cold pork ribs that had been set before him. "Why, my own father marched with his armies as a standard-bearer! Came within a mile of the emperor once, too! Ah, and this city ...

"This land was where the Uniter stood against the last of the filth that wanted to claim Syracia's land as their own! With the Tsayans gone, they were all that stood between us and unity. The Emperor's man camped right here, on this very ground, dug in behind wooden walls and last-minute fortifications. His generals all said the men shouldn't be put to the work after marching for days, but it turned out they needed them! The foe swarmed out before dawn, throwing themselves at the barricades!

"Ah, but the Emperor was a canny sort. His Sparakae were in hiding, and the barbarians were trapped now between them and the walls ...

"When the slaughter was over, the Emperor declared he would march no more. He planted his sword in the bloody ground and said that here, here, would be his palace. Here would be his capital! Here would be the center of his nation, and so it was! So it is! And so shall it ever be!

"So before you slandering this city, young pup, just you remember this is the closest you're going to get to holy ground without picking up some hokey religion ..."

The old man trailed off. His audience had disappeared, along with the platter of food and tankard of ale.

And his wine.

The elderly gent was just getting a good rage worked up when the innkeep thumped the bartop with the flat of his hand. "Payment's due, meneer.* One goblet of wine, and your friend's ale and ribs."

"He is not my friend-"

The proprietor growled. "He said you're payin', so you're payin'.Twenty dacha** for the lot."

Sighing, the old man reached for his coinpurse. It wasn't too terribly hefty a price ...

His coinpurse was gone too.

Lekar, a good half-mile away, belly full and coinpurse newly filled, didn't hear the shout of impotent rage coming from the seedy-looking inn; and if he did, he wouldn't have cared.

Maybe this isn't such a bad place after all.

-------

*Meneer: Analogous to "Sir", a respectful form of address. Also Menaar; "Ma'am."

**Dacha: A common unit of currency.

Are you trying to imply something about the strength and war prowess of Asians... *narrow eyes*
No, I just though as I typed it that it made it sound like Cleric had made an error. :p

OOC: Wow. Me and the Valin have been in military conflict with each other for 206 years straight. That ought to be a fun peace. Also, fun fact, there has never been a ruler of the Wilipian Dynasty that hasn't invaded Valin Territory. Evern I ruled for 68 years, Evern II ruled for 69 years, and Evern III will die in his 69th year of ruling(this one).

Crazy...

jal, I'm responding to your PM right now.

Crazy...

jal, I'm responding to your PM right now.
Yay! *does the PM dance* :dance:

:p

EDIT: On that note, 4000 posts! :eek:

General Sunex had 400 Yu-Yang by his side. The 2500 refugees marches up the hill. Sunez rode his horse as did the other warriors. The oneists were accompanied by about 500 bladeists. Most of the men were to old or to young to wield any weapon of sufficient volume. But the few who did wielded rusty swords. Many had long seen battle. Most of the weapons were from the days of the lengel invasion. Rusting for a century, heirlooms from a past generation.

The men were all weak. The Swade had come to Aronellia but Sunez had come a day earlier. Immediatly everyone began to pack up their possessions and head towards the Myocacan fortress.

Sunez knew the distance was to far, but there was a small abandoned tower just a few miles away. LAst time inspected the gate still worked and it could home 6000 troops. It was the only place they could head.

It stood upon a hill in the valley. The enemy was hot on their heels. Sunez had no idea how many stood against him. But they were to many. As one man had said their arrows will blot out the sun. Sunez knew myocacans had faced such odds in the past and triumphed.

As he rose to the top of the hill he could see the tower in the distance. Out of the sky came a hawk. Lifting his arm Sunez took in the beast. Pulling the parchment it was written by Rogalius.

At the first sun's ray I will be with you brother. For the Blademaster and all man I come with 2000 cavalry. Swithrine has been told of your plight. His ships have turned around carrying thousands of rampant oneists. They will be here to aid their homeland. I hope you are right to turn on the Swade.

Sunez thought to himself, "It is right, these swade have turned their backs to our eternal lord. Here we will round one blow that they will remember for all eternity."

-------------------------------------------------------------

Upon entering the tower Sunez immediatly had the gate shut and barred. Orders went out to set up stones and debris to be thrown upon attackers. Women and children were given materials to fashen into arrows and axes. Every person, women and man had atleast a hatchet at their side. Medics rushed around caring for the sick and hungry.

Sunez stared at the horizon. They were a days march a head of the Swade. They would be here by noon. The dusk was red. Chuckling to himself Sunez said the old Bladeist proverb, "Red sky at night soldiers delight, red sky at morning, soldiers take warning..."

Sunez would work tirelessly all night with his men setting up guard positions, equiping the civilians and others. It would be a tough night, but the next would be the most back braking night of the general's life.

-----------------------------------------------------------

At noon the Myocacan soldiers stood upon the walls. Sunez had his three commanders. Caster, an old friend of Sunez who had served with him throughout there lives. Another was Seargent Bradicus. A deadly swordsmen, many wondered why he had been summoned into the Yu-Yan rather than the Divine enlightenment swordsmen. But he always responded that they never got to ride a horse.

The final one was an old man. One of the refugees he was a oneist. He claimed to have fought in far away lands in the far south. He talked of massive giants and creatures who appeared could stand on their hind legs but walked like a fat cat. His name was Methuse. He carried a large broad sword on his back and two throwing axes in his belt.

Getting on his horse Sunez gathered his three officers. Two enemy soldiers rode down with their flag. The officers did the same. MEeting the two men.

"By order of the Bladeist church you are all sentenced to death. Surrender peacefully, and we can guarantee you a painless death."

Sunez came close to the man's face, "So I can either die, or die and give you all a hell of trouble in the mean time, I think I will go with the second choice."

"Hah, you and that rabble. The only decent troops I see are some old men. Scum, insects, vermin...You are the rancid of..." His words were cut short. Sunez's blade sliced through the air and the general's head plopped harmlessly to the ground.

The flag bearer suddenly turned around and ran for his life. Sunez turned to Caster, "Shoot him..." In a split second an arrow was released striking the man in the back.

Sunez could only think of what was going through the minds of his enemy. "You go, I will not kill you or else you won't have a leader. And that would be unfair wouldn't it. Now are my demands. Leave this land never to return."

"You will burn in eternal freeze on the edge of the blademaster's sword."

"Maybe I will, but at least you will be there to comfort me. I will see you on the battlefield general."

"This will not be a battlefield, boy, this will be a slaughterhouse. Our armies will descend upon you."

"Very well general now go on before I decide to allow my sword to sing a little more."

The general outraged rode back on bigjaur at full speed. "Come return to the tower, they will come any time. Hurry!" They rode down towards the tower. Their destiny had been chosen, soon they would face its rearing head.

Nice story Wubba!

To the Accendent Master
From Horthen Ceaser Emor.
I can not allow my Mother walk to her death, no matter what the future she sees demands. I will take her place in this epic. I will not let her Taint the Her'rim with the Blood of the tainted. since I knew she would object to my taking her place, I broke her left leg, and she will not be fit to face you for several years. I do ask that the duel be postponed, while I retirve the only sword that is worth of this duel. I expect to be finished in no more then 4 months from now. Please ignore the letters from my mother.

To Swade Accendency:
From Lady Askua.
My son walks the path that could lead to the end of the world. Kill the Bladeist Bastard before he find Shrin'k, the Accursed Blade!

OOC: ^_^. the story unfolds through diplo. her Bladeist son has lamed here, and removed her from the equation. and now seeks the the dropper of Stars, the blackest of blades.
and I repeat, he is not a follower of the path of god, he is a follower of the Bladeist religion.

TerrisH: That's...interesting. :P You're going to force people to read through other people's diplomacy :o

OOC: Wow. Me and the Valin have been in military conflict with each other for 206 years straight. That ought to be a fun peace. Also, fun fact, there has never been a ruler of the Wilipian Dynasty that hasn't invaded Valin Territory. Evern I ruled for 68 years, Evern II ruled for 69 years, and Evern III will die in his 69th year of ruling(this one).

Uuh? Since Thy isn't here to smack you down, I guess I'll have to take over. There will be no peace ever between Swade and Oneists. The other bladiests states, we'll deal with. You, death.

Understandable writing FTW!

Me? Gah- I better change that back if its me. I like to confuse my enemies.

OOC: 我可以用中文写字!!!!

Now I can write secret additions and the like to my stories in Chinese and no one would be the wiser :evil:

OOC: Why are you use simplified instead of traditional... Aren't you Cantonese? and i would be a tad wiser for the record ;)

OOC: Why are you using OOC if you're not in this nes... :p And I use simplified because I didn't install the traditional language :(

...Simplified?

You communist b-tard! Go back to China! D:

Traditional for the win, man. Chinese characters have beauty to it, which is not expressed with the abomination that is called "simplified". D:

Well, er, the point was you'd send them to me :p

DING DING DING Iggy!

I seem to remember something about 1 economy point buying 5,000 infantry from now on. Is that rule now in effect, or did it go into effect before this update?

Also, I think the conscription rules should be revised somewhat, since conscripts aren't really volunteers as much as pressed into service.

I decided to not change the infantry numbers.
@Azash- Send what to you?

My PM. ten

I don't have any PMs from you Azash.

Iggy I really think you should change the way armed forces are organised, make them like Das had in ITnes.
this will also hopefully help getting rid of stupid units like Yeti's


I didn't put anything in my orders about it, but I never explicitly stopped it. It's up to Iggy.

To Citadel
From Adar

Remove your blockade of our country.

What about some diplo to the free city of Tigot :(

Or as it will soon be known Shadow City of Tigot.

To Free City of Tigot
From Adar

Hello.

to Adar:
Heya ^^


OOC: and Iggy stats would be lovely, even if they are just a bunch of zeros. (thought I really don't see why my education and Infrastructure etc would be zero?)

Iggy I really think you should change the way armed forces are organised, make them like Das had in ITnes.
this will also hopefully help getting rid of stupid units like Yeti's




To Citadel
From Adar

Remove your blockade of our country.
Why should we reward you for your actions?

Why should we reward you for your actions?

Why should we be punished for our actions? take a look at the world for a moment, we certainly aren't the worst out there.
Unless you consider freedom of religion abhorrent in some way.

OOC: although that wouldn't surprise you don't have any other religions except New Eldism

EDit: Technically I should know hardly anything about the outside world, except from anything I gathered from Zemora...

when r orders going to be due?

oh and u might want to update descriptions of nations since I have noticed many are still from the lengel era.

Iggy, get on #NES!

Sorry about the nation descriptions everyone. I'll get around to it.

Sorry about the nation descriptions everyone. I'll get around to it.
Iggy! #NES! NOW!

Hi, I'm interested in joining this NES, but want to know how I should go about doing it.

I want to take the little bit of land in the southeast part of the southern continent, where you can just see a river before it's blocked by the black.

I want to know how I'm supposed to set up my nation, and what the state of the world is.

Iggy! #NES! NOW!

Japo dude are you still blockading or what?

I don't have any PMs from you Azash.

earlier you said you still had my previous orders :run:

Oh, from this turn? Crap... I deleted them yesterday.

@Shadowbound- I'd kinda prefer it if you took an NPC.

Right, I'm looking through the stats now but can I have the histories? I want to know if the nation I choose is a puppet state or has to donate half it's army to defend the North Pole*.

*True story, happened to me once.

Oh, from this turn? Crap... I deleted them yesterday.

@Shadowbound- I'd kinda prefer it if you took an NPC.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=5174050&postcount=3111
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=5174050&postcount=3112

.......

Japo dude are you still blockading or what?
We will stop blockading you if you pledge never again to wage aggressive war.

Sunez stood amongst his men. The enemy stood just over the valley. Staring at his men the general saw his men were tired. He saw that their faith was weak and they needed a leader.

Sunez called to his men, "Men, we have worked tirelessly. But we cannot give into temptation of death. It would be to easy for all the world to fall. What it promises is peace and quiet. But think of your duty to your family.

We have a duty to liberty and freedom. A new age is upon us men, where the shackles of dissent and lies are cast off the people fight for their rights and throw their lives on the altar of liberty. We must make that sacrifice this day.

Sometimes we must put all risk to the wind to protect what is most dear to us or we must cast it all away. We will stand as one against these enemies. Swade will descend upon us and we will make them rue the day they turned on our lord. We will make them curse leaving the Blademaster.

I place my sacrifice on the altar and We may perish in this fight. But all the lands will know that 2000 Myocacans gave their last breath to defend it.

Turn to the man on your left and now to the man on your right. Memorize these faces men. These are your comrades these are your brothers. Their are bladeists and oneists but we are no different. We are of the same blood and same people. We will fight together and if need be die together.

Show no mercy to your enemy for you in return will receive none. Let the charge into us like dogs. Allow their bodies to fall upon us like rain on rock. We will hold their might. We will uphold the torch of courage.

I will feel their sting, you will feel their sting. Give up nothing and take from them everything. Do not stop, fight until your body gives out. We will sweat and all bleed. I now make my offering of blood tonight.

They have come for ours to pour on their satanical tree, but instead they will drown in their own. Against us they will fall. Against all odds we will prevail. If you must abandon hope, it is only a distraction from your goal. Hope will not win this battle only courage and brotherhood will see you through the night.

We stand as one, Fight as one. And die as one! "

As Sunez looked out into the blackness thunder cracked over head. "What a perfect night to die..." The enemy began to march the sound of steel and fire. Sunez drew his sword "Get to your positions men, Tonight we dine in Hell!"

Awesome story! I love the last line.

Awesome story! I love the last line.

Even though it is a direct rip off of 300.

I still have two more stories to come of the battle and aftermath

If no one has any objections, I think I'll take Sintonia.