To Adar
From Arcadia

While we still have not the foggiest idea of this "sinister plot" that you speak of, we will respect your wishes.

To The Citadel
From Arcadia

Surely you jest. You would break your vows in order enforce a blockade on a small people? You speak of war- somehting that doe not bode well. Do not try to intimidate those who do not care for your lives. We will respect the blockade simply because of Adar's wishes, not yours.

To Adar
From Arcadia

While we still have not the foggiest idea of this "sinister plot" that you speak of, we will respect your wishes.

To The Citadel
From Arcadia

Surely you jest. You would break your vows in order enforce a blockade on a small people? You speak of war- somehting that doe not bode well. Do not try to intimidate those who do not care for your lives. We will respect the blockade simply because of Adar's wishes, not yours.
From: The Citadel
To: Arcadia

We do not speak of war, but isolation. To ensure that Adar cannot conduct war, they must be isolated from the world. That is what our blockade is. Adar must be left alone with their sins.

OOC: Thanks emu! :p

Citadeller or Citadeler?

Edit: oh wait is this spam?

To: The Lengelzai

We offer to make peace with you. Since you are in such dire straits, we offer that we make peace until your civil war is over. You could cede us Emor and Unchete and return Myocaca its land. Whence you have finished fighting your civil, we can again fight our war.

To: UKKK

Sirs, we have met feriously on the field of battle. We would agree to help you conquer the renegade Nurmaferi provinces if you give us back our land and recognize our soverignity over it.

To: Nurmafer

Bit Chez, what now? Don't mess with the Blademaster, don't mess wit him, nu-uh nu-uh.

OOC: Iggy, good update, but what happened to the invasion froce for the Nurmafer island, and what happened to the Bigun with the people who were trying to find the end of the world?

To: New Veritas
From: Norvalin

Our alliance stands strong, but we ask for you to trade us enough Iron, and teach us the secrets of smelting it, so that we can grow into the Iron Age, and better serve the League of Valins.

Iggy, good update, but what happened to the invasion froce for the Nurmafer island, and what happened to the Bigun with the people who were trying to find the end of the world?Both were failures that I failed to mention.

Thats cool, thats cool. One more question, why doesn't the Blade River Virus effect Davarians? Or does it?

Sirs, we have met feriously on the field of battle. We would agree to help you conquer the renegade Nurmaferi provinces if you give us back our land and recognize our soverignity over it.

Not going to happen, these lands north of the mountain range have long been in Khemrian plans to expand, the UKKK has inherited these. Your expansion into said lands was oppurtunistic at best, Anyway, we're at war.

OCC: I have a question did my ships sent south manage to make any contact with nations? Or was their journey canceled for some reason?

Regions of Croyodon

Cintar: Dark Red- The northernmost and least populated of the Croyodonian territories. It is heavily populated by people related to Croyodonians and has thus far kept alive what remains of the Croyodonian culture even having its own unique religion.

Middle Mountain Region: Light Red- The area is very cold and sparsely populated having a population only slightly larger then Cintar. The people are also devote Masra followers who get in regular conflicts with the spreading culture to their north.

Coldon Coastal Region: Dark Green- The area has a vastly expanding population as more and more Croyodonians move westwards to take advantage of the land and conduct trade with Skilv’so which is now under Gorinese control. This is the most populated region in Croyodon and one of the largest.

Plains of the North: Purple- The breadbasket of Croyodon this area grows many crops that fed the population as well as exporting to Gorin. Recent growth in population will see this area strained to produce enough food for trade with other nations as well as Croyodon itself.

Saldor: Pink- The southernmost region of Croyodon its population mainly supports itself from domesticated animal farming. The grasslands which receive regular rain from the nearby mountains produce enough food to support the cattle and some crops that need more water to grow.

Croyodon City Province: Blue- Site of the capital of Croyodon and a bustling center of trade that comes from Gorin. With more and more trade coming from the Gorin and vice versa this city has become the wealthiest in the country. The architecture of the city looks like Gorin and most travelers have trouble figuring out what country they are in.

Lower Croyodon River Province: Dark Brown- The site of trading posts and small harbors is well known to the region. The area has really seen no population boom as most of the people take residence in Croyodon City which is the halfway point of trade in the nation as well as the grand marketplace there.

Upper Croyodon River Province: Orange- The area contains the mountain fortresses constructed when the Lengels threatened the nations with their hordes. The fortresses have never seen a day of battle they are heavily maintained incase of another invader. This is the only major city in Croyodon that serves a lot of traders is Manocon which is the second largest city in Croyodon.

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

Croyodonian Peoples of the North

For years of wandering the first Croyodonian tribes arrived at the River Croy building Croyodon city. The people gradually expanded and became the strongest of all its fellow tribes expanding across a mountain range to a great sea and to the frigid lands of the north. The nation’s trade and interaction with Gorin and literal adoption of their culture made them forget of their past and fellow people.

Many Croyodonian tribes survived in a thin belt to the north of Croyodon where they lived isolated from the outside world. These people built a unique culture all by themselves. They had pottery and jewelry shaped and painted with unique patterns and shapes. They often built small permanent settlements that had unique symbols carved into the walls depicting scenes of their religion.

Now to the religion of these culturally isolated people that inhabit such a large area of land. The people believe in one god who is the supreme ruler of everything. The people are his servants in life and the afterlife. The supreme god is often seen as offering people paradise in the afterlife for life of servitude in life maintaining the world he created. People who are lazy or destructive are sent to a life of pain and misery in the core of the earth. They spend one life equal to their afterlife in this tomb of torture which they are reincarnated and given a second chance at making it to eternal paradise. The religion teaches that faith in the supreme god along with hard work, generosity, and just being a good person will lead to paradise.

There is one holy site for this religion a small fishing village where the seven nights of miracles took place. This is where the religion started, spread and flourished. Most of the stories, however, are not written down but instead told through stories or scenes often painted on pottery. The goal of Croyodon’s cultural advisors was translate these pictures into a written form where it can be stored and read for latter use.

Popular to the working class of Croyodon this religion is spreading fast in the northern regions and has begun to penetrate the south. The only reason for this is the nation’s sudden interest and revival of past Croyodonian culture. The religion is known to the people of Croyodon as Nordism named after the fishing village Nord where the seven nights of miracles happened.

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9923/regionsofcroyodonvg2.png (http://imageshack.us)

A map of the regions and a guide to the isolated Croyodonian settlements in the north. Red dots are major settlements and the one with a blue center is Nord the holy site for Nordism.

From Croyodon
To Gorin

We wish to purchase this small piece of land from you that is sparsely populated and a far away territory of Gorin. Please name your price if you are willing to sell it. Do not be alarmed by our cultural revival which has caused a new religion to spread for it is still much smaller then the Masra population. The king is still a follower of the Masra religion and he promises all religions within the nation will be treated with tolerance. We will reopen our borders to cultural exchange once we have developed our own cultural identity.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6690/purchasejq3.png (http://imageshack.us)

Land we would like to purchase.

From: New Veritas
To: Lengels

As you are the established masters of Emor and Myocaca, we would like to settle a small grievence that we have been nursing for some years. The tip of the peninsula facing south, in what was once Myocaca, held a colony, belonging to Veritas. We would like to reassert our claim on this small area, called Sempronia. In return, we would be happy to lend some of our experienced naval forces to your campaigns.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/59439/1156493158.gif

Our naval superiority is already unquestioned, so I see little use in making this bargin in return for your 'experienced' naval forces. However, once our respective wars are concluded, we would be happy to sell the territory in question.



To: The Lengelzai

We offer to make peace with you. Since you are in such dire straits, we offer that we make peace until your civil war is over. You could cede us Emor and Unchete and return Myocaca its land. When you have finished fighting your civil, we can again fight our war.

Oh? Why should I cede land when I am winning? I sent only half of my army, and was only defeated by diesease. Koke's punishment for overconfidence and our sin of corruption, but such matters are trival compared to the punishment that awaits you. Koke wills it.

Quick orders sent.

To Citadel
From Tir Tairngire

While our people are having some difficulties getting used to the ideas your prophets espouse, we are vigourously supporting your cause from the Throne of Murias. Any aids, military or civilian, whether its engineering or civil service, would be appreciated.

In addition, in light of recent aggression and instability demonstrated by Adar, we humbly beg that you grant us the secret of iron weapon-working so that we may preserve as many of our people's lives as possible through superior technology, should it come to war. For the good of our people, we ask this from you. We hope you will give us this protection.

To Adar
From Tir Tairngire

We condemn your insolence against the men of the Citadel. You are crazed ingrates with no respect for life.

To Arcadia
From Tir Tairngire

To be at odds with the Citadel is to be at odds with peace. We believe it would be best for your people if you were to cooperate.

To: Tir Tairngiare

Thank you for your support. Should Adar attack you, you will definitely recieve iron.

@Iggy: add that to my orders (give Tir Tairngiare iron if they're attacked by Adar).

To Trinlin
From Guangfei

We were aware, our zealous diplomats alas. We will withdraw from the affected areas.

To Tellum
From Guangfei (;))

We accept your offer of a galley and will gladly encourage representatives of the Way of the One to go to Exilsium to denounce the overburdening of the Church of the One. Of course, we're quite sure the galley will have a severe and unexpected accident on the way.

"Civil war..."

A mug of some obviously alcoholic beverage was placed in front of a Davarian man. The large, burly Nkondi woman looked at him with an odd eye when he said that. The man sat in a open area with a few scattered benches, near the Keran mountians which split Nkondi from Davar. He was on a trading run with his carvan, bringing Davarian grain to the Lengel army massing up north to defeat the rebels if they didn't return to the Empire.

"Strange ain't it? Never would have thought the inconquerable Lengels would be defeated by something such as this, eh?" a nearby elderly Lengel man said to the Davarian born man in the Lengel tongue.

The Davarian man stiffened at the man's suggestion that the Lengels would be defeated. He had served in the army, in the Khemri campaign, before becoming a merchant. He was old now, but still he remembered the Lengel born soldiers. They were superior fighters, certaintly, and far above in the food chain of the army based on their birth. But they did not force the Davarian soldiers to do menial tasks, but instead took on these tasks themselves as part of their duty.

It strengthened the morale of his entire Davarian force, when the Lengel horsemen would help injured Davarian soldiers. They became more than conquered and conquerers in the army. They became brothers. The now elderly merchant had contributed to the invincibilty of the Lengel himself, and the comment that they were not longer invincible was a shot to his pride.

"The Lengels under the strength of the Lengelzai can't be beaten," responded the Davarian merchant in Lengi, a touch of iron underneath his voice. The Lengel man looked at him for a moment, a knowing look in his eyes.

"Oh, you think so? Aren't you Davarian? What would you know of Lengel invincibility? Of Lengel fighting?"

The Davarian man glared, and then replyed, "I am a Lengel."

The elder Lengel smiled, and turned away, "So you are. I am Khaidu. Perhaps we will meet again."

With that, the elderly man walked out into the field. The Davarian man, surprised, attempted to follow. But when the Lengel man passed into the shadow of the mountains, he disappeared as suddenly as he appeared. And the Davarian man could not think except upon how he so easily declared himself Lengel, when pure Davarian blood ran through his veins.

From: New Veritas
To: Emor

We would welcome such a delegation, if the Lengels agree. It would be a great success to bring your people back into the faith.

From: New Veritas
To: Norvalin

Of course, Norvalin is a devoted ally of New Veritas. We will provide the iron you seek soon.

From: New Veritas
To: Guangfei

Though we know that Guangfei has no qualms about razing cities and slaughtering thousands, Valins hold themselves to a higher standard. If you chose to send a boat of your 'Oneists' to Exilsium, our navy would personally see their safe passage.

To New Veritas
From Guangfei

It is better for a quick death at the blade of a sword, then the slow death of hunger and starvation your ancestors imposed upon the inhabitants of Khemri.

From: New Veritas
To: Guangfei

We will grant you the death of your choosing.

“Of all the sins of Veritas, their greatest sin is this. Their food tastes terrible, just terrible.” – Minister Richeliu

It was a warm stuffy room, hidden somewhere in Guanzhong far from prying eye. It was the main meeting place, of perhaps one of the most important departments. It was the department of Military Affairs, staffed by 5 soldiers, three of them old veterans the other two young soldiers where new ideas were to be brought forth. The room had seen individuals ranging from great Lords and Ladies, to lowly metal smiths and farmers. Yet, never in their history, had they ever seen a baker.

What a baker could do to help the war, was beyond their imaginations. A baker, here, smiling like he had something that could change the war in either a little or large way! Smiling, completely oblivious to the shock and grimaces as the men tried to hold back their laughter, the baker strode into the center of the room and began speaking in a loud voice, stopping from time to time to drink a cup of water.

“As the great strategist Ban Chao once said, an army with no food is an army of walking corpses. It has always been a problem to supply the armies of the state, and even when there is sufficient food, the greatest problem was that the food which could be supplied was normally very bland. Yes, it’s a given that food in war is usually bland. Wait, wait, hear me out. Now, if you had a food which could increase the morale of the soldiers, such as something new and exciting…”

As he looked excited around at the soldiers, his heartfelt smile eventually faded into a week one as the soldiers looked with faces of disbelief and an expression that clearly showed they thought he was insane. With a shaken demeanor, he, in a perhaps too melodramatic gesture flung off the blanket covering the “thing” which in his excitement landed and covered one of the soldiers.

“I give you… SLICED BREAD!”

In the years to come, the soldiers would all come to swear the room was so silent they could hear the dialogue outside of the room and the distinct noise of crickets. The soldiers simply didn’t know how to react. Bread had always come to them before, well, whole. And now here was this guy who was proposing bread be sliced before hand. The results of the man’s proposition are unknown, but one thing is for certain. The old saying soon became popular in Guangfei wherever sliced bread went.

“The best thing since sliced bread”

To Adar
From Tir Tairngire

We condemn your insolence against the men of the Citadel. You are crazed ingrates with no respect for life.



We laugh at your two-faced dealings, we have Iron, so we dont need to attack you so you may declare peace and then trade it too us. Fools! The Citadel surrounds itself with double-dealing sneaks.

We laugh at your two-faced dealings, we have Iron, so we dont need to attack you so you may declare peace and then trade it too us. Fools! The Citadel surrounds itself with double-dealing sneaks.
From: The Citadel
To: Tir Tangiare

We hope very much that what Adar claims is not true... if it is, you had better have a very good excuse.

how do you make a link to a specific post?

Edit: doesnt matter I quoted other peoples posts to figure it out

Thats cool, thats cool. One more question, why doesn't the Blade River Virus effect Davarians? Or does it?Lengels seem to be the ones primarily affected. Your medical knowledge is nowhere near knowing why it attacks some people but not others. Put it down to divine intervention.

OCC: I have a question did my ships sent south manage to make any contact with nations? Or was their journey canceled for some reason?A voyage south brought you as far as former Nurmafer.

To Tir Tangiare
From Arcadia

Go child and play merrily- your people know nothing of the world. If you even harbor the thought of allowing the citadelians to preach in your lands then indeed you know not of the ways of the world. The citadelers will dull your blades, stoop your back, and lead down a path of dullness. Maybe you should know that the Citadelers, minus their wolfskin, foster more destruction than the Lengels theirselves. For you must know that without war there is no peace.

OOC: Darkening, I would love to have a story-debate between the head of the council of Eldos and the Arcadian archbishop. Maybe after I get back...

In the hundred years of war much had happened to the family of Myocaca. King Fendrus had fallen fighting for his people. His wife died of old age. Halone the middle brother had been regent of the thrown. Falone the eldest had come to adopt the throne.

His brother joined him as they united around the fallen. They were not defeated. Araguern the famed general still was with them, still old but still fighting.

The only question of the family succession was that of the youngest of the line. Son of Halone he was only 19, but disapeared. Falone had no children. It was he the lost boy who held the future, Thranwuir was his name. He his friends and his ramid gone in the fires of the lengel invasion.

It was he of Serenity the grand ramid. Where he was no one knew

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

As two men were discussing. Two men discussing the lengels of their greatness. A man sat in the corner cloaked in shadow. He held a pipe in his mouth. He stared. He was young, with a blonde grizzled beard.

As the man stepped out of the tavern the cloaked person followed. The davarian by all means, walked out onto the platform in the forest.

"You did what I told you right?"

"Its all taken care of, now where my money?"

"Don't forget my friend."

"Who are you?"

"In good time you will know my name"

The man ran off into the distant dropping a small package of coins. As he disapeared into the darkness. The man stood in puzzlement. To be continued...

“The One is wise beyond years, and patient beyond time. The One is All, and All is the One.” -Kong Fuzi, Priest of the Way

“Holy Father, do you really think it’s safe to go to Exilsium? We’re Oneists like Veritas, but they’re not the best example of shining benevolence. Remember what they did to Emor? And to your predecessor, there’s a reason he’s your predecessor? The Veritasians claim it was an accident, but everyone knows they just want to rule the world. I mea-“

“Veritas has her faults, but so do we all. New Veritas may be now a barren and culture less land, but she was once great. What I fear most is coming to pass they still have not done penance for the Great War. The One will once more punish them by a third exodus, and I fear the One may soon lose patience… Two exoduses have come to pass, but still, they have not learned.”

“You said yourself that the One is forever patient I do not think he will give up on the Veritasians yet. For they are a great people, even if their leaders are corrupt, one must blame Stratikrator. If he had not went on the crusade against Eldrania, perhaps their spirit would not have been corrupted by them.”

“One can hardly blame Stratikrator for the failure of his people to see past his folly. For absolute power corrupts absolutely, but what does it mean to be corrupted? Perhaps when one is corrupted, one can see clearly into doing what is right. The Royal House of Liu after all, has ruled with absolute power for 400 years, and yet Guangfei has only prospered. The people are happy and content in general. Can one look out the window, and say that the Liu Royals in their despotism has destroyed the country?”

“No, they’ve been nothing but a blessing to our country. Without them, my ancestors would still be fishermen trying to eek out a living on the shores of Guangzhou. I would never have had the leisure to become literate. But the Veritasians offer so much…”

“Veritas offers much indeed, but what have they brought to this world but death? The lament of the mothers over their dead sons? It is said by the ancients that sons bury their father in peace, while fathers bury their sons in war. Veritas is corrupted, the Church of the One stands in front of progress. That is why we must go to Exilsium, to urge the Oneists nations to reject returning to the fold of the Church of the One, but to form a new church, free of the influence of Veritas. For the One is beyond the borders we mortals set to define nations, he is All. Until all Oneists, especially New Veritas, understand that our faith transcends borders and governments, there will be no unified Oneist religion. We will remain divided.”

“It seems that New Veritas simply wishes to retain control over her Oneists brethren with her “Church of the One” denouncing all other sects as heresy in most cases. It is strange that New Veritas would propose to convene a council. Perhaps they wish to control this new Church?”

“Who knows, though I doubt we will even make it to Exilsium. New Veritas will most assuredly not want us to be at the council. It would not look good for them at all, not at all.”

“But we must don’t we? If we don’t go, the treacherous Church of the One followers will go. I guess we really don’t have a choice Holy Father.”

“Nonsense, we all have a choice. The Choice The One gave us. We cannot shirk from our duty to him, it is our destiny. We cannot avoid it, New Veritas will make peace with her soul, or she shall perish…”

To the Heathens of Arcadia
From Tir Tairngire

We will not hear your foolish lies. The Tuatha know the ways of war. Our people have been this way since the beginning of time. War has brought only stagnation to our land and the Citadel will help us rise above it. It will be a long and difficult path, but rest assured, with the help of the Citadel and Eldos' favour, we will reach the end.

Against the West

"We have one key advantage. We have fought enemies far more fanatical than they, far more intelligent than they, and far more evil than they. What do they have? Only numbers, and inexperience."

-Host-Lord Gregorian, Essays on Combat

Part One:

The lift groaned and rumbled as it steadily rose through the tunnel. It had been carved from solid stone after the founding of Redemption, and was one of the only known ways to enter the city. The Narrow Stair was the other...but they didn't have time to walk through the city. The Lift would bring them to the Quarter of Ecclesiastes. Many citizens of Redemption remembered when the old rope-pulley lift had broken thirty years earlier. Three cows, eight sheep, and fifteen Vertan merchants had plunged to their deaths three hundred feet below. After the mess was cleaned up, they started using iron chains.

The lift was empty, except for two men. Both gazed straight ahead at the lift before them, their faces as stony as the rough walls slowly passing by in the gloom. They each wore identical sets of plate armor, with an identical scimitar buckled on each hip. Each had a helmet with a quail-plume stuck in it, and both men wore an immaculate red cape.

The man standing on the left was Host-Lord Vandrios.

---

Vandrios stared, unhappily, at the two men standing at opposite ends of the field. Each man had a large group of fellow tribesmen surrounding him. Neither wore a shirt, and both held six foot spears, practically a lance by some standards.

They circled, yelling taunts. Vandrios hung his head. It was never supposed to come to this.

His aide crept up to him. "Sire, should we...intervene?"

Vandrios shook his head. "No. Let them settle it freely. If they are to be friends of Veritas, they cannot be coerced by me."

The man on the left was named Choi. His skin was yellowish, and his eyes slanted. He held claim over all the southern tribes. In recent years he had been given various gifts, by ambassadors from Guangfei. He was tall, and thin. On the right was a different man. Blonde hair rimmed a light-skinned face, and blue eyes. His name was Tri-Alat, and he was lord of the northern tribes.

It all began several weeks ago, when Host-Lord Vandrios and his men marched into the village. He proclaimed the will of Veritas in enlisting the barbarians to fight Guangfei's imperialism. Choi and Tri-Alat, who up until then had governed together as allies, were split. A man from the south, probably one of the Guangfei, had already spoken to Choi some days ago.

Choi had become ruler of his tribe through killing those who opposed him. He wanted to rule his people as an Emperor, like the great golden Dragon King of the south, or so he was told. Vast armies and countless peasants served him, said the Guangfei ambassador. Choi's tribesmen followed him obediently, though many wanted that power for themselves.

Tri-Alat was not so sure. He had been swayed by the words of Vandrios, who told him of New Veritas, a land where all men chose their leaders, many men who ruled together. Tri-Alat trusted his friends to advise him in ruling the northern tribes, and his people had chosen him to rule out of all the others. To him, this way seemed best.

They quarreled in the Great House, the ramshackle wooden structure that served as a palace for the two tribal chiefs. Finally things came to a head, and Choi challenged Tri-Alat to a duel. They agreed, and the stage was set. The Tribes of the Plain would decide their fate at dawn.

---

The lift continued on its steady way. Vandrios blinked, lost in thought for a moment. The man standing on the right was also examining his memory. That man's name was Host-Lord Gregorian.

---

The ships rounded the bend, and Badong was in view. It was a small town, on the fringe of the vast southern jungles, separated from them only by the river. He could see the citadel of the city as well, a small wooden keep surrounded by a small stone wall and wooden gate. Gregorian took this in at a glance.

Then he looked to the river. Three ships were anchored near the harbor, each flying the banner of the Dragon Emperor. They looked only like river boats, not trained war-galleys by any means. But they had archers on their decks. It was clear that they planned to fight.

"Finally, an adversary. Conaivium, you have the ship."

T.N.* Conaivium strode into the center of the deck. He was a barrel-chested sailor, and carried a large poleaxe instead of a falchion. Raising it towards the defiant ships, he roared out a command.

"FIRE BARRELS!"

Immediately, several barrels of pitch and oil were ignited and launched from the catapults. Two crashed into the deck of the leading ship. Crewmen and archers fled from the blaze, some leaping into the water.

"FIRE ARROWS!"

The Phoenix Archers were the finest trained archers in existance. They dipped their bows in the jar of olive oil strapped to their back, lit from the brazier, and took aim. The "Burning Rain" was one of the most feared tactics in the Legioni. The remaining archers on the leading galley fell as the white-hot metal of the arrowheads pierced them.

Gregorian nodded. There would be few casualties from this encounter. Hearing a war-horn, he glanced towards Badong. The citadel was active, and a column of spearmen emerged from the gates. Crossbowmen on the walls took aim, but their bolts fell embarrasingly short of the river. But time was of the essence. Gregorian turned to his subordinate.

"Conaivium, I need to make a landing soon!"

The officer grinned wickedly. "As you wish, my liege."

"RAMMING SPEED!"



A small jolt in the lift shook both of the commanders out of their reverie. The slow upward motion of the platform slowed, and finally stopped, with a parting creak. Vandrios pushed open the door, and both men strode out into the marbled streets of the Quarter of Ecclesiastes.



*Tactica Navalum, the naval equivalent of a Commodore.

From Duke Tobi of the Skilvso to UKKK :

Vassal, eh? Fair enough--we're not sure how your conception of vassalage differs from ours, but the basic premise has to be pretty much the same. We accept your protection in return for our allegiance. Treat us like allies, and we'll get along fine. Treat us like servants, and this will quickly become an untenable relationship.
Just so we're clear on this, you wan't something from us, you ask for it, and like as not we'll give it to you. But you don't come taking or changing what's ours without our permission.
If this suits you, then we're all sorts of amenable to this good new deal.
You've said you want travel through our lands, which strikes us as justly fair. What else'll you be generally expecting from us?

From The Gorinese Empire
To Croyodon

The Land will be purchased for 1 EP. As to your cultural rebirth, it is your nation, you may do with it as you please. You are a friend of the Gorinese Empire, we would not hamper your own growth, for that would merely harm ours.

As to religion, Masra is a tolerant religion, it always has been. Do as you wish, but do not cease trade, it would only harm both of us.

To all Valin nations
From Exilsium

We allow the metting to be held in Pax. We have already stated that our kind of religious pratice will based on the philosophy of duality and balance.

OOC: Taosim FTW!

From Duke Tobi of the Skilvso to UKKK :

Vassal, eh? Fair enough--we're not sure how your conception of vassalage differs from ours, but the basic premise has to be pretty much the same. We accept your protection in return for our allegiance. Treat us like allies, and we'll get along fine. Treat us like servants, and this will quickly become an untenable relationship.
Just so we're clear on this, you wan't something from us, you ask for it, and like as not we'll give it to you. But you don't come taking or changing what's ours without our permission.
If this suits you, then we're all sorts of amenable to this good new deal.
You've said you want travel through our lands, which strikes us as justly fair. What else'll you be generally expecting from us?

Support in Diplomatic matters, possibly small contigents attached to our armies when we request it.

From Croyodon
To Gorin

We will continue trade just try to limit cultural exchange for a while. Also, we will send the payment of 1 EP for land and thanks for being so understanding of our situation.

From: New Veritas
To: Exilsium

Thank you. Though we might encourage you to consult your people before changing your religion so drastically.

Forgot about mentioning this earlier...

To: New Veritas
From: Norvalin

We will of course send delagates to the meeting on Oneism.

Iggy, how far north does my contacts extend? Also how overstretched is my nation?

to: Guangfei
From: Trinlin
Very well, we are happy you see your violation.

“She was the beauty of her age, graceful and charming in all aspects. Yet her beauty died with her, for she did not choose the path of a mother, but instead, the path of a tigress.” – Great Women of Guangfei

Where ever she walked, men bowed with respect out of her age and position. The eldest sister of Emperor Hu, she was venerable with great age. By prestige and respect, she was second none in the Empire. Even the Emperor, her grandnephew paid his respects to her daily. No man could reject her, and late at night when she observed the stars, she would remember and grin, of a time and age far beyond the times of the memory of the now living, a time, when she was young…

She was not more then 4, and as she ran around the Palace she fell and scraped her knee on the stone floor and was found by her grandfather as he conducted his morning exercise observing the Palace grounds. Remembering the tenderness in which he carried her to the pavilion and the gentle words and how her grandfather himself had applied a herb to her scrape before tying a white cloth to it.

“There, there, it’s all better now. Does it still hurt?”

“It feels fuzzy grandpa, what’s happening?”

“The medicine will chase away any bad little demons that got inside you. The cloth has been blessed to help protect you.”

“But it feels funny still grandpa! Am I going to turn into an Oneists? I don’t want to be an Oneist, Uncle Si says they eat other people and they’re really bad.”

“Your Uncle is just joking little Fei, Oneists are just normal people like us. Don’t worry about it, go, have fun.” With his permission, she smiled and ran out of the pavilion, only to remember half way to come back and kiss her grandfather on the cheek. She would go play and live a life of leisure with no worries.

A life of leisure for 14 years, with no worries in the world she had been a child. Learning reading, writing, poetry, singing, and various other crafts and skills young women of the upper class learned, she excelled. Yet she had long pondered the day when her life changed…

As her handmaidens brushed her hair and prepared her for the day, she heard great fanfare in the distance. Hurrying out, only partially prepared she immediately went to her grandfather and when admitted were surprised by the presence of two military officers leaving her grandfather’s chambers and recognizing the senior one, promptly went up contrary to etiquette demanded to know what was happening.

“General, what is happening? You rarely visit my grandfather at all! What’s going on!”

“Ah princess, the matters of the state and military are not for a young woman to worry about. Surely there are better things for a young woman like you to worry about? Perhaps considering your life long destiny in life?”

“Don’t you young woman me General Ban Chao, everyone says you’re an old and venerable old soldier but I know better. You’re a child at heart General. Just tell me what’s going on!”

The General shrugs only before continuing. “Princess Lianfei, I think I’m probably the only person in the world who knows what you really want to be. We are going to war with Nurmafer, to overthrow the unrighteous King.”

“I’m not a child! Guangfei does not go to war just to overthrow an unrighteous King, we are not that altruistic. What is grandfather really planning to do?”

“As perceptive as always Princess, the Emperor has no qualms against Nurmafer, but to draw out our true enemy.”

“Who is our true enemy?”

“If we knew, we wouldn’t be trying to draw them out would we?”

“I’m told you you’ve written a book on war. May I have a look?”

“Princess, I am of course at your service. I will have my servant send you one of the finest copy. Now if you excuse me Princess, I have a war to fight.”

As she stared into the horizon she knew the wisdom of her grandfather and his generals. Caressing the cover of the book she had been given by General Ban Chao, she smiled and breathed in the fresh air remembering the words of Xi Shi the women who had sacrificed herself for Guangfei. She whispered the realization of a life’s dream.

“Host-Lord Gregorian, your time is coming. You cannot compete, with a women’s touch. The crude man that you are…”

From: New Veritas
To: Exilsium

Thank you. Though we might encourage you to consult your people before changing your religion so drastically.

To New Veritas
From Exilsium

Not as much as drastic change and changing the fundementals, rather a new philosophy for our people to study and judge by themselves. The core that binds us with Valin shall remain intact, there will always be the One. That is an permanent truth.

To New Veritas
From Exilsium

Not as much as drastic change and changing the fundementals, rather a new philosophy for our people to study and judge by themselves. The core that binds us with Valin shall remain intact, there will always be the One. That is an permanent truth.

Of course, we should discuss such matters at the council.

The Basic Truths

Falin was a very old man, now. Still a decorated hero, still one of the first Returned, still victor of the epic battle at Castle Highrun. But he was old. One hundred thirty years [1] he had lived. Blackbeard had died more than a century ago.

That was an odd thought.

Falin sat in his chair at his small home, in Unias. For one hundred and six years he had taught students at the military academy. It was dawn now, and he did not intend to give up work on this day.

Falin slowly walked through the streets, as the passerby acknowledged him with a nod, before continuing on with their tasks. For a century, Falin had walked this path.

Eventually, Falin came to the school. It was a large multistoried stone building, with impressive-sized grounds. In the fields out back, students played with the snow that littered the ground, making forts, throwing snowballs. They were future officers of the Norvalin military, and yet they were ten.

The Norvalin believed in beginning to teach early.

Falin didn’t bother to enter the building. He merely walked across the street, and to the backyard where his students frolicked.

He then sat down in the snow.

The children knew who he was, and stopped playing immediately. Without needing instruction, they all came to sit in front of him. They knew the great Falin, the man who had come out of warrior retirement, for but an hour, to defeat a young upstart in a duel, and teach him the truth about duty and honor.

“Your classes begin now, children,” he told then. “Today I will teach you about the basic truths.”

The lads, mostly boys, but with a few girls interspersed, sat, and said nothing. They knew that they did not wish to miss a moment of Falin’s speech.

“The First Basic Truth is that everyone dies,” said Falin. “Everyone. Some can live for a very long time, such as myself, but eventually, we all pass to whatever lies beyond. This leads to the Second Truth.

“The Second Truth is because we all die, we must make sure others, in the future, have better existences than we did, for their brief speck of eternity. We must be self-sacrificing, and we must be grateful for what our ancestors have done for us.”

“That is all, children, that is the duality. Death is motivation. If we all lived forever, we could wait as long as we wanted to get things done, but we do not have that luxury.”

“Those are the two Basic Truths, and that is all.”

[1]-Norvalin tend to have extended lifespans. The ones that don’t die prematurely, that is.

Ah ha, rather different geographical circumstances than I anticipated...probably going to have to throw most of my stories and plans out the window now :(...

I won't be able to send orders iggy, so just do more of the same.

“True happiness stems only from duty” from the Book of the Justiciars

They think we are blind! That we do not see the truth through their fog of lies! They hate us! the world hates us! They think we can be controlled, never! We will never bow to their will!

Adar will be a fortress! Impenetrable, unmovable, their foul hordes will wash against our lands, but we will swat them like flies. They will not set foot in Adar, not while the justiciars stand guard.

___________

“Begone foul backstabbers I will not listen to your kind any longer, you natives disgust me, how did you even get in Adar! Begone!”

The strange looking men hurried from the room, the fools thought they could trick him, control him, he would not be controlled, not by their foul lies and double-dealings.
Like all foreigners he could hear their true words whispered in his ear, they mocked Adar, its people, Bane, they promised death and destruction. He regretted letting them go, they could have been tortured for information, but unlike last time he intended to do it himself.

“Arbiter, You requested my presence?”

“Ragnar, there is no need to be so formal, we’re friends after all”

“Y-yes of course Wulfnoth, I’m just still getting used to your new title”

“It was an unexpected honour, but this is not why I called you here, I believe we have traitors in our midst Ragnar, someone warned the citadelers what had happened to their comrade, allowing the others to escape”

“Are you sure Wulfnoth? Why would a fellow countrymen do such a thing?”

“I don’t know Ragnar, but this is why I called you and the other Apostle’s here, we must find out what the Citadelers did while in Adar, more specifically who they talked too”

__________

The other Apostle’s and a few harbingers gathered in the court, they talked and whispered amongst themselves about why they had been called, he could hear the lies they spread about him he could practically see their seething jealously, they envied his power! Ambitious fools, he was ready if they dared strike against him they would crushed!

“Fellow Justiciars I have called you hear because we have important matters to discuss, The Citadelers knew… they knew that we pried the truth out of one of their own and how we did it, they escaped before we could find out the whole truth. There can be only one explanation for this, traitors are in our midst gentlemen perhaps in our very ranks”

“You cant be serious Wulfnoth a Justiciar would never betray his brothers”

“Wouldn’t he Erik? Not even for the promise of power? Money? They promised you power didn’t they Erik! You have always coveted my position as Arbiter! You seethe with jealously even now!” Wulfnoth was becoming enraged he gripped the edges of the table till his knuckles were white.

“You’re a fool Wulfnoth! I have always stood by you, I convinced others to support your chance to become Arbiter It’s because of me you are even in that position!”

“…Yes… that’s true Erik, always a staunch ally” Wulfnoth relaxed his grip on the table and tore his gaze from Erik “But who told them? Who would ally himself with our enemies?”

Harbinger Valdemar spoke up, quickly turning attention to another within the room “Ragnar you must know something, you were with those eldists many times”

“Ragnar! Is this true?”

“Y-yes but I was ordered to esco-“

“I don’t want to hear your lies Ragnar, how could you betray us like this? Did our friendship mean nothing?”

“A-arbiter p-please listen! You ordered me too accom-“ He was cut off when Valdemar punched him in the gut and then Erik kicked him to the ground.

“Good man Valdemar, we do not want to listen to this traitors lies anymore, he has been corrupted by the Eldists” Wulfnoth crouched down next to Ragnar who was wheezing and clutching his gut “you know what we do to traitors Ragnar, we blind them we irons, cut off their hands and parade the through the streets of Adar as a message to all! Valdemar, Henrik, Viktor get him out of my sight”

The three harbingers dragged Ragnar out of the room, he tried to speak to plead his case but Valdemar kept him quiet. The other apostle’s watched as Ragnar was taken to his punishment, they stole questioning glances at Erik, wasn’t Valdemar his second in command?

“I would not have believe it if I had not heard it first hand, Ragnar my dear friend turning on us, stabbing us in the back. This meeting is over begone from my sight”

“Arbiter you know the corruption must go deeper then one man, the citadelers travelled far and whispered promises in many ears”

“What are you implying Erik, another Justiciar?”

“No Arbiter, the citadelers spoke much with Paragon Andrei he claims they were ‘religious’ matters”

“Why would the head of the Church of Bane side with them Erik? You tread on thin ice”

“He has a point Arbiter, the priest’s do not hide their contempt for us, ever since the first council of Rascirai, where they had to hand the reigns of power to us, they have undermined our right to rule”

“That is true Harald, we will question him then, find the truth of the matter”

_____

“YOU HAVE ALWAYS HATED US OLD MAN. …Admit it… admit your HERESY! YOUR TREACHERY!”

The situation had quickly spiralled out of control after confronting Andrei Wulfnoth had quickly lost his temper and lashed out at Andrei after his claims of innocence, Erik was wondering whether he should intervene.

“On your feet traitor!” Wulfnoth punctuated his point with a kick to Andrei’s ribs “You priests have always been jealous of the Justiciars, of our right to rule”

“*Cough* you…*Cough* Justiciars abuse your power *cough* Bane wi-“ Wulfnoth smashed Andrei’s face into the floor of the Church, his blood seemed to be readily splattered about

“SHUT UP OLD MAN!…. I did not tell you to speak” He didn’t seem to be moving, nor did he respond when the Arbiter nudged him with his foot.

“Is he dead Erik?”

“I don’t think so Arbiter, we should continue questioning him in a more private area”

“We alone have the right to rule, for we alone have been trained for it and have the power to enforce it”
“Zeal is its own excuse”
“Even a man who has nothing can still offer his life”
“The enemy of my enemy, is next”
excerpts from The Book of Justice

You’ve all made the best choice of your lives, by joining to Justiciars your going to make a difference, universal order and peace is our goal, and it is the correct goal. Things get accomplished in an atmosphere of order and peace. Understand? Now some fools resist peace, but we believe in peace so much, we’re prepared to fight for it. Our might will make right.

That work for you lot? If not leave this minute, we know the truth and we tell you what it is, you’ll begin an eight week program – what? No talking in the ranks! Never interrupt me. Get out, you three - we give no second chances.

As I was saying, we start you off with our eight-week training program. The physical training portion of this program begins immediately after this indoctrination session. This week of training will send you, at planned times, to some uncomfortable places. It may seem meaningless to you but is not. Physical exertion to the point of exhaustion numbs your minds. That’s what we want. During this first week, you will forget all you think you know. Your instructors will break down all the wrongheaded beliefs you have in those heads.

In the second week, we’ll issue you with a copy of this book I’m holding. It’s the book of Justice, or Justiciars if you will, which describes our rules and regulations. You will learn every word. At the start of the third week you’ll receive a second book, the Adari municipal code. Since some of you will make up the city watch, you must know the city’s laws. For the most part, just make sure people behave themselves if they don’t just bash some skulls. Don’t worry too much about the details of the city code – that’s for the Archons to figure out. During the programs third week, you also will begin training in law enforcement, including capturing and restraining criminals using standard equipment, those deemed more suitable to the military will begin a different training program in a different location, and you’ll get the details if and when you need them.

By the fourth week, you might begin to feel like you know something, don’t let it go to your heads – you haven’t even started. During week four, we test your knowledge of the city and teach you landmarks important for finding your way around. At the end of the week, your instructor will blindfold you plug your ears and dump you alone somewhere in the city. You’ll have a set time to find your back to the barracks.

In the fifth week, you’ll study all we know about the foreigners, so you can learn to recognize the troublemakers and deal with them accordingly, the sixth week well heh you’ll find out. The seventh week of training is always interesting: we test you on all the knowledge you’ve acquired, but under adverse conditions.

Finally, your eighth week you spend patrolling with some full members of the justiciar’s, those boys will evaluate you at the end of the week. Now you may get the idea that some of those boys don’t like you and you’ll be right, most of them were taken from their parents and trained from an especially young age or they were orphans, or chosen or whatever. You just gotta prove to them that guys like us are Justiciars through and through. Once you’re in though, you earn promotions like any Justiciar, results and unquestioning loyalty.

You have made the right choice, and others will follow in your footsteps. Now, get to your instructors!

OOC: I don't think you have paper emu. How can you write books? :confused: Personally, I gotta say I loved your first story. Everyone loves a maniac! :D

no paper? :( well its erm papyrus or something :sad:

Edit: Also i'm glad someone liked my stories

Its a tablet....problem solved

There's animal skins, clay, even stone! Though making a stone book would be...difficult.

Book worms would be so toned

Missionary Work

Clouds steam billowed up from the bow of the ship as it slid effortlessly through the chilled waters, displacing both the fusing ice and fragments. A cold wind snapped in from the west and shook the men to their core. All in all, there were around forty men sitting in a semicircle on the rocking boat. Some, having seen many more winters than the others, were bundled in thick furs- while the rest had been foolish enough to simply wear only one or two layers.

Despite the fact that the men were gathered together, the ship was much larger than it appeared. While the bases were still the same- a low-lying trireme- the ship had a layer of wood serving as both a roof and another deck- the standard Sloop. Most of the cargo had been crammed down in the lower deck while the men were forced above. Some of the men- around half- were naturally the sailors. Some of the others were the traders to whom the cargo belonged to. Others had come to serve the One as missionaries and wore a small patch of white sown into their furs.

Out of the forty men on board, only two were of any importance- an old man sitting in the back and a young man sitting on a bench near him. The old man was, oddly, sleeping up against the side of the ship. His long gray hair was tied loosely behind his neck and he wore a couple layers of thick furs to protect against the cold weather.

The other man, much younger, stared broodingly at the men propelling the ship along. In one hand the man clutched a metal star (to the point of digging it into his fleshy hands), and the other was firmly attached to the railing. His dark brown, a shade almost reaching a black color, hung down loosely in front of his clenched emerald eyes. He was one of the few young men who had decided to follow their elder’s advice with clothing.

It was over two months since the ship had taken its mission and set off from Vael Dash with the cargo and the missionaries- on both a trade and religious mission. Normally a simple trip like this one wouldn’t have taken so long, but the sailors had bungled the entire voyage and were far beyond schedule.



“I’ve already told you a thousand times Daen, I just can’t let you become a priest. One must know their own life before they can even consider pointing others in direction of their life. You’re much too young to officially study the Durma.”

The boy sat and listened, his head hung low- situated across from the priest.. The boy’s dark brown hair fell down over his face and hid his disenchanted visage. His chest fell from disappointment before he rose from the deteriorating seat. “Yes father.” The boy muttered as he walked down the aisle.

The church- as nearly every Arcadian one was- was large enough to provide shelter for the people in the frigid cold. A stone chimney had been erected over a large wood fireplace that was proving the heat for the large wooden building. The church had just began to become crowded as people made their way for services- and indeed rows of corresponding benches had been set up for that night’s prayers.

The boy reached the large oaken door and hauled it open, allowing the church to be filled with a cold breeze. The breeze filled into the large wood church and blew various papers around, as if toying with them. What would have once shaken the people to the core now made little difference as they had become used to the weather- in fact the only trouble was having to chase the papyrus down.

“Daen wait.” The rich voice called out from behind the boy. The boy paused in the doorway as the priest jogged down the aisle. “Here. Don’t go too far.” He said sternly, pushing a few coins into the boy’s hand. “Make sure you’re back before services.” The boy began to nod only to find the priest had already turned around.



The ship finally came to a rest with a low thud against the wooden pier. A round of muttering rose up from the men as they stood up, stretched out sore muscles, and debarked from the ship. It had taken two and a half months of crawling along the coast for the ship to finally reach Unias, the capital of Norvalin. The boy shuddered as he stepped onto the solid wood, the frigid weather being much more than he was used to- even with the thick layers of clothing.

The older man let out a booming laugh and rested a large, furry hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Come. The inn is just some ahead.” He said while laughing, pointing over a hilly crest to the town that lay beyond vision. The boy watched as nearly every man- sailor or not- made their way from the docks over the hill to the town beyond, following the cold stone. The boy was snapped out of his thoughts as the old man pushed him forwards, a round of laughs echoing from the other men.

The boy, slightly blushing, stumbled his way over the stone to the compact town beyond. It wasn’t that large- compared to Vael Dash- but it was clearly larger than the other towns the ship had stopped at during its journey. A series of stone roads twirled their way through the town and led to most of the major buildings. Daen could easily spot the military academy and the various public buildings sitting alongside the roads.

The man prodded the boy along until they finally reached an inn, oddly, resting in the middle of the road. The road dashed along its path until it reached the inn and then split off into two separate roads heading away from each other in a diagonal path. The man laughed, booming again, and happily made his way towards the large oak door. He pounded his feet on the mat, shaking the loose snow off, and clambered into the large building. The boy took suit and entered the warm building, shutting the heavy door behind him.

The inside of the inn was indeed warm. The building was composed of rich pine wood that you could smell for a mile, despite the obvious aging the wood had undergone. Numerous lanterns hung from the walls and illuminated the building. The build was packed to the limit with people from all walks of life, including the people Daen had just met on the boat. It reminded the boy of a Sunday night back in Vael Dash, just after the nightly prayers had been taken care of. Normally the boy would had a hard time making his way through the throng of people, but he just followed along after the man- the guy was huge. They made their way over to the innkeeper to secure their room.


The boy plodded along through the freshly fallen snow, kicking it as he went along. The sun had set for the day and, through the falling snow, the boy could see the moon peeking its head out of under a large cloud. Despite the snow and the winds people still bustled in the city. Vael Dash had become recently become infamous in Arcadia for being an all-night town- one could find people walks its roads, enjoying its taverns, and just being at all hours of the night.

The boy made his way through the crowds of people, humming the lyrics of a hymn under his breath that had been prominent at the services that day. The coins given earlier by his father still weighed heavily in his pocket and the boy had already decided to make his way to one of his favorite spots- the Fallen Hero, a rustic inn set off against the Rydos.

The boy ambled on in his stroll, taking in the sights of the capital. Of all the cities in Arcadia, only Venix could compare to the sights and opportunities offered by Vael Dash- one could find everything the needed in the city and more. A unique feature that life in the city offered. The boy could see where the work crews had been working on the Marble Tomb earlier, forced to abandon their work only due to the snow.

The boy plodded along the Rydan [1], watching as various ships on the Crested River trudged along- aiming for the docks located at the other end of the city. Houses of the nobility lined both sides of the road and were offset by a thick stone wall as to keep the masses from intruding in their personal lives. The boy felt a smile break across his face as he spotted the tiny building in the distance.

The smile broke out into a full grin as he spotted a large head bobbing up in a candlelit window. The boy bypassed the small docks set off to the set of the inn and pulled the heavy pine door open- stamping his feet on the woolen mat before entering the cramped tavern.


“One room for two.” The old man stated, writing his signature on the ledger. The two were holed up in front of the innkeeper, an old woman way past her prime who had just shoved a ledger in front of the old man. The woman nodded after the man signed and pulled a copper key off the wall and handed it to the man. With a gruffly ‘thank you’, the man and boy made their way from the register into forum. The man let out a low yawn. “Long trip. Can’t wait for a good night’s sleep for once.” He said smiling. “I’ll be up in the room. Come up whenever you want.” Then the man turned off and went up a large set of stairs situated to the right, leaving the boy alone in the throng of people.

Eventually, after tiring of standing still and looking ridiculous, the boy moved from the large forum into the equally large bar. Small, wooden circular tables had been cramped into the room, with wooden stools placed down instead of chairs. Lanterns hung, once again, from the walls and were placed in the middles of the tables. People crowded the room and, despite the cramped conditions, laughed and babbled on to each other.

Daen spotted an open stool against the bar, something rare, and managed to snag it before anyone else. The bar was an antiquity at best- a large plank of wood resting on a series of interlinking wooden boards arranged to support the bar. The top of the bar had been overlaid with a thin layer of polished marble. A plump woman stood behind the bar, filling glasses with a frothy liquid. She made her way over to Daen and politely asked for his preference- not that it really matter, as the bar seemed only to carry Arcadian Tash.

The boy felt a grin creep across his face as the rich brew reminded him of home. He swirled the dark liquid around with a finger and watched as the various spices continued to dissolve. He took in the rich beauty of the drink, staring the night away before he finally headed upstairs many hours into the night.



“Well, well, well! Look at just who it is.” The barmaid said, having slight trouble at keeping a dry grin from her face. The boy laughed and made his way over to the bar and sat down on one of the unoccupied stools. “You’re in luck Daen. He’s just about to start”. The barmaid winked, thumbing over a man setting up chairs in front of a podium. “Thanks Myaa.” The boy laughed, getting comfortable on the stool as a large man took the stage. He cleared his voice before starting to talk to the small crowd.

“Greetings to my brothers of faith.” The man said dryly, winking at the crowd. “Years have gone by since the coming of the saint and yet the world has not begun to hear his word. Why is that? Is it because our forefathers were too occupied dealing with other nations, other problems, to focus on what truly matters in this world? Or is it because no man has yet to his personal task?

You see, in order for men to hear the true word of the One, someone must speak it! In order for the spark of the light of the one to shine, someone must light the candle! It came to me in a dream I had a few weeks ago. I saw, in my dream, a single candle burning in a windowsill. The flame on the candle began to flicker, as if about to be extinguished. But then, out of the blue, a hand reaches down and places another candle beside it! And then another! And another! And what started out as one candle became a multitude of candles lighting the entire world!

And when I woke in the morning, I knew what I had to do- I must spread the word of the One to the world. I have been touring the country since then, arranging groups to travel the world and preach the word of the One. And as such I have arrived here, in this town, to arrange a mission to the far north. I’m counting on all of you of faith to join my missions and help spread the word of the one to the north!.

OOC: Yes Imago, I made stuff up. I didn't really say anything bad anyways. ;]. First of two.

EDIT: I tend just to say papryus.

Nice story, Darkening! I'm too tired to finish my own, so I will tomorrow.

@Thlayli- Uh, your city isn't THAT fortified. It's walled and on a hill, with a cliff on the seaside. It NEEDS gates. You'd strangle your city to death without them.

I know, there's a route that leads up the hillside, like I said in the story, and previous ones. The lift is just for direct transport.

There is, as I picture the city, two heavily fortified gates. Though the other ways are okay, they can't be the only ways in.

Oh sure, of course there are gates! I was only referring to direct access from the sea. There's a harbor, but to enter into the main city you either take the lift, or take a steep road up the hillside.

The New Veritasans are a bit paranoid about an enemy attacking from the sea.

Ah, I see. So there are two somewhat separate towns, with the lift being a lifeline between them? So trade is in the harbour town, local affairs and government in the upper town?

You could definitely say that. Traders and merchants usually keep their goods down in the port, (along with their sailors ;)) and then go up into the upper city to trade. I've actually planned it out quite well.

Picture this. The city's walls are shaped like a diamond, with the upper corner cut off by the coastline.
...____
..\ ECS /
...\ H /
....\S/

(a bad picture, but it'll have to work)

The two gates are on each side of the diamond, about halfway up. The southern most point has the Shepherd's Quarter, (S) where the owners of the farms around the city live.

In the center is the Quarter of Commerce, just called the Haggles by most people. (H) In the upper left is the Quarter of Ecclesiastes, (E) where the largest Temples of the One are, and where the Priests and Disciples of the One are trained and live. In the upper right is the Quarter of State, (S) where the Hall of the Assemblum is located, the High Court of Justice, and any other government buildings.

Finally, at the top of the diamond in the center (C) is the Stratikrator's Citadel, with the Tower of Command in the middle. The Citadel has a second retaining wall, and three towers, intended to be a fortified fallback position in the event of a siege. The Tower of Command rises from the center, and is quite tall. It holds the quarters of the Stratikrator, and his War Room.

All of the other business is done in the Port, called the Mariners Quarter, or just the Lower City.

The lift comes up in the Quarter of Ecclesiastes. The entire city was almost destroyed by fire about 150 years ago, and so it was drastically replanned by Stratikrator Panteras, and probably the greatest achievement of his career.

EDIT: Finished changing it around. Hehe.

@~Darkening~-Nothing wrong with that. You got the old innkeeper part right, Norvalin tend to work until they're dead.

@All-Something funny I noticed. According to the stats, more than 2% of my population is a Returned. That means more than one out of fifty of my poulation is fanatical enough to exile themselves for a year, and then come back and serve the military until the day they die.

I don't expect anything, but what exactly happened to the Shalamari? I've been away for far too long to plow the pages behind. Plus I'm leaving again very soon.

they are hanging around Gorin, who is trying to culturally convert them, thereby destroying the Shalamari.

So the exodus was a failure? Darn. Oh well. I guess the remnant living peacefully in Gorin is better than all of them being devoured by the trackless sea.

@Imago, you do know that the stats haven't been updated right? :confused:

They're sort of updated, and that sort of includes the population increases.

OOC: Who knows then :confused:

You know, it's very nice of you thlayli, to just start mentioning all this ;) How... like you :p

Actually, I started mentioning Redemption's construction several weeks ago. ;)

Well I mentioned my city's construction months ago :p I don't see my three layers of city walls being built :mischief:

When will stats be fully updated?

Because ~Darkening~'s story motivated me to write something better than I had before-

Legacy

Bloodfire.

Oaths burned the night, as a single, lone man loped away from a burning shack, in the middle of the northern tundra.

I lost, didn’t I, thought the man. I lost everything. Everything has been taken from me, from my heart.

He heard the growl of the hunters behind him, the feral noises of the dogs, the wolves. And the ice-cold men who led them. The hunters were masters of their craft. The man, who went by the name of Drak, could not escape them. He knew that fact, in his heart.

That fact didn’t keep him from trying, though.

Drak pushed through the brush, not looking back at the remnants of his destroyed home, the home that he had set on fire, to provide a distraction so that he could escape. But, it seemed, the trackers had not fallen for the bait. By the sounds of the barking, the yells, the curses, they were onto him. Drak was frightened.

The man who was chased was a murderer. Six people he always boasted he had killed, but the truth was, only five he had died by his hand. Drak had found the third already dead in an alley. But, six or five, it mattered not. The Hands of the Law were coming down on him.

He called them that, at least, but in simplistic Norvalin style, the men were simply called Trackers. In the last three days, they had hunted him out, found the lair of the man who was a murderer. And now, they were going to kill him.

Drak rustled through thick branches of loose underbrush. The leaves were all gone, leaving nothing but a tangled mess, a web of thorns trying to stop him, to hold him steady, as the trackers with their dogs and wolves came to come and kill him.

As he struggled, as he finally managed to push through the branches, and began to run full out, Drak thought to himself, that it had not always been like this. Once, he had been a different man. A man whose death would have been a cause for great sadness, instead of a cause for celebration.

Drak thought back to that time, six years ago, in Vael Dash.

A priest of the Pirian Oneists sat at a gilded desk. Drak stood in front of him, hands folded at his front, as he wore a dark purple robe.

“You wish to be a missionary, Drak?” asked the man. “Why? The son of a Consul should have better things to do with his life, than live a hard an menial existence in the far corners of the world.”

“Third son,” corrected Drak, “of eight. No one pays me any attention. I want to go out, I want to do something with my life.”

The priest sighed, but then, a small smile crept to his face. “If the life of a missionary is the life you want, Drak,” he said, “then I will not be one to stand in your way.”

Drak, for the briefest of moments, snapped out of his reverie. The dogs were coming. He heard them. He kept running, as his mind replayed the events of a day, two years ago.

“I love you, Drak.”

“Why, Melisanda? You know we can’t be together. I can’t spend the rest of my live in Varlas. Others in Norvalin, others all across the world must hear the gospel, and I must preach to them.”

Melisanda, in that dark and crowded bar, put her hands on her hips. “I have to stay in Varlas. I have a commitment to my people. I can’t let Norvalin down.”

“I know that,” said Drak. “And so I want to leave you, because our love can never be.”

Melisanda looked at him. “You understand, really? I thought it was just a front. I thought you said you didn’t understand our ways, Norvalin ways. I was wrong.”

But the truth was, she was right. Drak didn’t understand commitment, or dedication. He had chosen to become a missionary because he had wanted to see things, not because he wanted to expand the faith. The truth was, he didn’t care about the faith. Maybe he had at one point, but not anymore.

And so that night, lovestruck, and confused, he had happened upon Melisanda, and he had killed her.

Things quickly slid downhill from there.

Back to the present.

Drak was tired. He couldn’t run anymore, and he collapse on the ground. Laying there, on the thin snow, he began to count the seconds until the Trackers caught him. He reached ten, and then, they were there.

One of the men, a powerfully built brute, who clearly had much native blood in him, leaned down to the ground, and looked Drak in the eyes.

“I have to ask this, skum,” said the Norvalin, ‘because the law requires it. Do you repent?”

“Go to hell.”

As Drak laid on the ground, helpless as the dogs, wolves, and Norvalin circled around him, he wondered if being more polite would have been a better idea.

He didn’t wonder for long.

Valin steel was his end.

Actually, I started mentioning Redemption's construction several weeks ago.

You know, what I LOVE about Alexandria is that its destroyed so often that whenever it gets rebuilt, its built with the latest in Modern Defences, Cities like Khiso probably still have these crumbly walls for the central bit *shakes head*.

You know, what I LOVE about Alexandria is that its destroyed so often that whenever it gets rebuilt, its built with the latest in Modern Defences, Cities like Khiso probably still have these crumbly walls for the central bit *shakes head*.

Well considering each time it was rebuilt with modern defenses, the city Alexandira still just fell again to more foreign invaders even with the latest in defenses while Khiso never fell to them. Maybe you should have crumbly walls for all your cities? ;)

Well considering each time it was rebuilt with modern defenses, the city Alexandira still just fell again to more foreign invaders even with the latest in defenses while Khiso never fell to them. Maybe you should have crumbly walls for all your cities?

Thats IT! each time they tear down the walls, the nice stable walls of Alexandria come down in nice chunks, the walls of khiso fall on the enemy and crush them *doh*.

Report on Guangfei


By General Fan Si of the V Panda Imperial Army, Iggy Occupation Force
To Supreme Overlord Pandara, Ruler of the Divine Empire

By your decree on the status and position of the Imperial Monarchy of Guangfei, I have submitted this report for your eyes only Oh Supreme One.

Guangfei was established in the Year 1010 by Liu Bang later Emperor Gaozu. After Gaozu there were 6 more Emperors to date, Emperors Han, Xian, Wu, Yi-Ga, Hu and Yue. There is no dynastical title instead the Imperial Clan titles itself the Royal House of Liu. In less then 400 years, Guangfei has turned from a primitive barbarian land to the Cultural Wonder of the World with the blessing of the Pandas.

One of the largest countries in size and population, it is an absolute divine monarchy. Succession is usually a peaceful and bloodless process, in which the wisest or most intelligent or best street smart candidate is chosen. In By General Fan Si of the V Panda Imperial Army, Iggy Occupation Force
To Supreme Overlord Pandara, Ruler of the Divine Empirethe succession practice, there are four primary “figures” so to speak. The late Emperor, the High Ministers, and the Estate Generals are these four figures.

In normal successions, only the Late Emperor, and the High Ministers choose the next successor thus when the Ministers are unable to accept the Late Emperor’s choice for heir, the Estate Generals are called to break the deadlock. It must be noted that the Estate General has no power at all in normal times and can hardly be considered a senate in the light of the absurd Assemblium of the New Veritasians. In these 400 years, there has only been one civil war due to a dispute of succession, the War of Succession between Prince Che later Emperor Wu and Prince Hong.

An oddity here unlike the other proto-Chinese nations we have founded, the theory of the “Mandate of Heaven” has not come into being that a dynasty can be overthrown. In fact, it is taboo to overthrow the House of Liu, the Great Founders. By religious and cultural decrees, all future Emperors/Empresses (they foresaw that a woman may one day rule) must be descended by blood by the paternal line to Emperor Gaozu, or King Liu Bang as he was titled prior to his death.

The Imperial Government is organized into three distinctive branches with the Emperor supreme in all three. These three divisions are the Department of Military Affairs, The Censorate and The Council of State. The Military Affairs Department is under the direct command of the Emperor and obviously governs military affairs. Under the Emperor, there is a council of high ranking Generals by the name of Gunxi whom makes and formulates the general strategy and appoints lower ranking generals to command. The Gunxi is headed by 2 Generals of the highest prestige, and skill. Under the Gunxi are a larger number of mid-low ranking generals whom command in the field and are responsible for tactics and following through the orders of the Gunxi.

The Council of State is separated into two branches the Secretariat which proposes policies and the Chancellery that reviews policies. As thus, there are two officials under the Emperor, the Grand Secretary also known as the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. Under the Grand Secretary there are two more branches, one dealing with policies supported and advised by the common people and the other dealing with policies suggested by the well educated. As the two branches are usually quite biased, it is the duty of the Grand Secretary to work out and negotiate policies that benefits all.

A recent addition to the Grand Secretary, is the branch of foreign affairs whom propose policy and relation dealings with foreign nations and is charged with securing lodging and other material goods for foreign ambassadors. The Chancellery reviews the policies recommended by the Secretariat and are to present the Emperor with their own beliefs of the policy and form results independent of the Secretariat. Unlike the Secretariat, there is only one branch under the Chancellery.

The Censorate is in charge of investigating corruption and official abuses of power with two men delegated to the task. One man investigates corruption such as using government funds to build a bridge to build a dwelling for himself. The other man investigates official abuses of power such as an official ordering the properties of his family’s rivals being confiscated. These two men are called Censors.

The Grand Council of the Empire is a separate entity from the Imperial Government. It is the highest area of rule and law making in the Empire. The members are the Emperor, the two general head of the Gunxi, the Grand Secretary, the Chancellor, and the two Censors. The members of the Grand Council to date has been nothing but the most intelligent and well educated in the Empire.

This ends my report on Guangfei so far as they and we are under vicious penguin and polar bear assaults under the tyrannical despot and well known Francophile, Thlayli. All Hail the Overlord! Long Live the Divine Empire!

OOC: Felt like writing a boring report on my own country :p

How do you make a spoiler?

Lurker's Comment Start: [ Spoiler ], End: [ /Spoiler ]. Without the spaces. You can add a little title by in the start tag making it Spoiler=Blah Blah Blah.

You rock Symph, for real. But enough of my spam *punishes self*

@SS- Well, the resources for an exodus have yet to be completed. And your people are doing a fine job of maintaining their culture, don't worry.

@alex994- The penguins deny their complicity in the Guangfei/New Veritasian war.

@Lord_Iggy, what about the primitive penguins huh? We all know how the New Veritasians bought so many of them to use as food from the Trinlinese! it's a heresy I say :p :mischief:

I had to rewrite this story. Twice. So if it's unusually good, that's because I poured all of my anger and frustration into it.

Against the West

"And then the One gave him a vision, of a great Dragon. It was vast and powerful, with golden scales. But blood dripped from its jaws, and an iron crown sat atop its forehead. Then there appeared a Phoenix, with a tail of blue fire. It clawed out the eyes of the Dragon, which vanished into the sea."

-Pacian, 3:14

"Operational situation degrading."

-Last radio transmission, Alexandrine V Imperial Panda Army, Iggy Occupation Force

Part Two:

Somewhere high in space, various mercenary polar bears, aided by French Panda vigilantes and a variety of French and Persian soldiers in various motley assortments of capitol ships (somehow led by a Mon Calamari extracted from some other universe,) were maintaining a sustained barrage of thermonuclear fire on the orbiting Alexandrine Panda fleet. The clever prepositioning of a wormhole in the quadrant had disrupted all communication with the homeworlds, and the Franco-Perso-Polar-Panda-Mon Calamari Expeditionary Force (F.P.P.P.M.C.E.F.) was steadily forcing the Chinese Pandas back towards their moon base complexes. For now, there would be no more interference with the wars on Tellus.

None of that mattered to the two Host-Lords, however, as they strode out of the lift into the road. The two guards on either side wore pure white tunics with no device, marking them to be Novitiate Disciples, loyal servants of their masters who only obeyed the command of the Uniarch, who was the supreme protector of the Church in New Veritas. Even so, they recognized legitimate authority, and unbarred their iron spears quickly. Without a word, the commanders swept by into the marbled streets of the Quarter of Ecclesiastes.

The crescent moon, barely obscured by a cloud, sent down a few pale shafts of light, to be reflected in the dull whiteness of the walkway. The Quarter of Ecclesiastes was one of the most beautiful spots in all Redemption, built at the personal expense of several generations of Uniarchs. Temples and monasteries, along with living quarters for the Priests and Disciples of the One who staffed them, lined the road, some with small censers of incense hanging on chains, wafting their heady perfume out into the breeze. There was no time to bother with admiring the scenery, though. Time was more valuable than gold to these particular soldiers.

It wouldn’t do well for morale if the citizens of Redemption saw their top generals running, but even so they pushed the limits of a fast walk. A blue-robed priest muttered a benediction as he walked slowly by, and the muted peals of the night-bells calling the faithful to Disciplines* could be heard from afar. Two scribes from the Assemblum tried to simultaneously bow and get out of their way, as a result, the huge pile of scrolls that they were carrying toppled into the walk. Neither Vandrios nor Gregorian paid them any attention, and the scribes were left to whisper their apologies to the night sky.

As they continued towards the center of the city, the temples grew progressively larger and grander. One monastery caught Vandrios’ eye. A single light was visible through the arched window, and the silhouettes of Disciples kneeling in devoted prayer before an icon of the One flashed through his vision. There was a small walled garden behind the structure. Vandrios saw the tops of a white rose bush peeking over the edge. That bush grew only in Redemption, and in Salvation across the sea. It was forbidden to all but the priests to cultivate them. A single rose remained in bloom, even so late in the season. He took that as a good omen, and passed on. A single petal drifted to the ground behind them.

Near the end of the quarter, the largest Temple of the One in all Redemption came into view. It was the personal residence of the Uniarch, and two High Archpriests, who were his advisors. The Basilica of Pacian the Incarnate had not yet been completed, but the outward structure had. The silver dome at its peak was designed on models of the Hall of Elders in Old Veritas. A hall that now lay in ruin, or so the rumors told. A Vertan artist who had seen the monuments of the Island of Veritas had been brought in, at great expense, to complete the mosaics for the inside of the building…but no one had seen anything yet. Neither man turned his head to look at it.

They finally reached the Quarter Gate, unbarred in times of peace for the city, and passed through the archway. In the gloom, Gregorian heard the distinctive click of two boots coming to attention. He smiled. Stratikrator Panteras, his old commander, was always a strict disciplinarian. On this side of the Gate, all the soldiers were Legioni men, loyal only to the dead Stratikrator. They saluted the Host-Lords briskly, and this time, both men returned the salute, with a nod. The place they were now in was the intersection of several roads. The road from the Lift and the Quarter of Ecclesiastes met the way that led from the Quarter of State. There was also a street that traveled south, towards the Haggles.

The square that was formed was called the Place of Remembrance. A small fountain stood at its center, a steady stream of water trickling downwards into the pool. At the top was a small statue of the One. It was jarringly familiar to anyone who called himself Valin. The statue held a silver spear in its right hand, and a golden tree in its left. It was the same statue that once sat atop the Arch of the Exodus in Veritas of old. According to the Mariners that went that way, the statue had been cast down into the First Harbor. Only the legs remained of the mighty statue, as it sat atop its crumbling arch. The power of Veritas had been broken, and destroyed…

But it was rebuilt anew, as Gregorian looked to the left. There it stood in all its strength, the Stratikrator’s Citadel. Like a stone giant reigning as a king in his castle. Three round towers were connected to each other, and a central keep. And from that keep rose the Tower of Command, lancing upwards; a needle trying to sew up the sky. It rose 350 feet from the hillside, 600 feet above the cliffs, and nearly 900 feet above the sea. Stratikrator Panteras had done well in its building.

After the great fire one century ago, and the Swade invasion that nearly reached the woefully unprepared city, the young Stratikrator Panteras confronted the Assemblum about the issue. He declared his intention to completely re-plan the city, and fortify it, so that the future citizens of the city would not suffer if war came. When the Assemblum protested that there were no workers and no funds for the project, Panteras uttered his trademark phrase, which would soon become famous, “The Legioni will provide.” Over the next fifty years, the entire army was literally drafted into the Second Building of Redemption, along with any criminals and vagrants that happened to be around. The Quarters were walled off, the outer gates reinforced, and the Citadel was built.

Then Panteras paid the finest craftsmen and architects, out of his personal fortune gained from years of conquest, to build the Tower of Command. And it rose. From its peak, the Stratikrator would live in times of peace, looking out from the top of the tower over the Guarded City like an eagle in his aerie. And that was their destination.

The gates swung open.

---

It was Choi who struck first, running forward as he jabbed his spear towards the northerner. Tri-Alat saw the spearhead coming, and danced backwards, out of its range. Then he countered with a stab at Choi’s neck, which was easily beaten away. Crouching for a moment, Choi sprang forward again, stabbing repeatedly at his opponent’s head.

Tri-Alat was unimpressed. He ducked, and then ran to the left, whirling his spear over his head in an arc. Then he brought it down, and it audibly cracked as it connected with the southerner’s skull. But nothing broke, and Choi retreated, wiping blood off his scalp.

“You would betray us to those eastern pigs?” Choi panted as he delayed for time.

“We came here to fight,” Tri-Alat responded. And this time he struck first. The ceremonial spear he held glinted in the sunlight as he roared a battle cry. The northern chieftain charged his exhausted enemy, using the spear as an extension of his arm. He feinted, then when Choi swerved away, switched from blade to spearbutt, slamming it down into his enemy’s stomach. With the wind knocked out of him, he stumbled backwards.

Tri-Alat’s expression was grim as he charged forward yet again to finish off his opponent. But Choi had intentionally exaggerated his movements, and regained his balance on one foot. With the other, he kicked at Tri-Alat’s spear, knocking it out of his hands. It flew through the air to land several meters away on the left. Now Choi was on the attack. With no weapon, Tri-Alat had no choice but to dodge Choi’s attacks as he was forced away from his fallen spear.

Tri-Alat had no defense but his hands, and Choi knew it. Seeing that victory was near, he slashed his spear across his enemy’s chest. Tri-Alat jerked back, but the spearpoint caught him on the left arm, slicing it to the bone. The northern chieftain cried out in pain. Now Choi knew that it was almost over. As his enemy winced at his arm, Choi stabbed towards Tri-Alat’s chest…

And was caught by surprise, as his adversary gripped the oncoming spear with both hands, and vaulted over it. The body of the flying Tri-Alat crashed into Choi, sending both of them rolling onto the ground. In the struggle, the spearshaft snapped under their combined weight. But a broken spear is still usable. Choi threw the wooden butt at Tri-Alat to distract him, and then grabbed the head of the spear, using it as a dagger. Now the northerner had no choice but to retreat.

But before Choi could react, Tri-Alat picked up his fallen spear that he had been inching towards all this time. But he wouldn’t keep it for long. As the southern chieftain ran at him for a new attack, Tri-Alat pulled his arm back, and threw the spear at his enemy.

It impaled Choi through his chest. The bewildered man, failing to comprehend that his life was about to end, crumpled to the ground. The southern tribesmen shrieked with dismay, and ran from the circle. Tri-Alat had won. But he too fell to the ground, bleeding from various places. With cries of happiness, the northern tribesmen ran forward to help their leader.

Vandrios turned to his aide. “It is done. Those southerners may join Guangfei, but at the least we will have this man and his men on our side.”

The man nodded, and opened his mouth, but at that moment a brown-clad scout ran into the field. He saluted, hastily.

“My lord Vandrios. Decadion Virconus, reporting! While scouting the southern plains upon your request, we saw several tribes fleeing from here to the south. And on our return, sir, we spotted a party of soldiers, heading for this village.”

Vandrios frowned. “What flag do they bear?”

“The Dragon Throne.”

“I see. Septilion Andronian, order the troops. I will command personally. We shall meet them with iron!”

---
Notes:

Disciplines: Any man training to be a Disciple of the One must obey the Disciplines, which are seven periods during the day. One hour is taken to worship the One in prayer, varying on which Discipline is being performed.

Well, PC and NPC stats are updated. Fluff stats will be updated soon after I post this. Feel free to point out errors if you wish. Next update is next weekend.

I also have some proposed rule simplifications. I've dropped some that I suggested in other threads. Here are the proposals:

1. I replace Nomad/Rural Economy with my 'Region' system. It divides your country into regions, each which represents the production from an area. Each region produces 1 economy per turn. YOUR ECONOMY WILL NOT CHANGE at this time, though it may change through this system in the future.

2. I simplify military into Infantry, Cavalry, Light Ship, Heavy Ship, UU.

Infantry will be a balanced mix of different infantry types, the balance of which can be changed on your request. For example: Attack so and so with 5000 infantry, mainly light swordsmen.

The idea being that a professional soldier can probably use more than one type of weapon if necessary. Also that this will be easier for me. Yay!

3. Population would be replaced with a size stat. My size system would work differently than the one you know.

Size
Miniscule: Under 10 000. Cannot draft.
Tiny: 10 000-100 000. Can draft up to 1000 soldiers.
Small: 100 000-1 000 000. Can draft up to 10 000 soldiers.
Medium: 1 000 000- 10 000 000. Can draft up to 100 000 soldiers.
Large: 10 000 000- 100 000 000. Can draft up to 1 000 000 soldiers.
Huge: 100 000 000-1 000 000 000. Can draft up to 10 000 000 soldiers.
Colossal: Over 1 000 000 000. Can draft up to 100 000 000 soldiers.

Lots of Zeroes :p.

4. Conscription. For convenience, the amount of draftable units is shown next to the population sizes currently. This is possibly my most controversial suggestion, and I will say now that the size stat can exist without it. And don't worry small countries, if a colossal neighbour conscripts millions of soldiers to fight you, they will likely collapse from unpopularity or economic strain.

Keep in mind, if this is an unpopular rule and no reasonable solutions are offered, I may have to clamp down on current militia users.

Well, personally wise I think the conscription numbers are a bit too low... I mean, if you look at the south after the civil war, the entire male population was almost wiped out by the war... :mischief:

Oh yes, please answer my other PMs aside from the one making fun of thlayli ;)

I dislike these changes intensely, their is only one that intrigues that would be the region stat.

Edit: I like being able to see my population, although I guess you would have to change it somehow

Adopt the regional system, and thats it. The other changes are too..........not good at all. No offense. But i like the regions thing.

the regional system should be good. (I have occupied what? three cores? should be good :p)

Iggy, why are there no Bladeists in either the Lengel or Khemri Empires? They are occupying a good portion (one half) of Bladedom, i think there should be around 100,000 in their respective empires

Well, if one region represents 1 EP, does that mean over time as the income grows the regions could be divided? :confused:

@alex- Yes.

Iggy, why are there no Bladeists in either the Lengel or Khemri Empires? They are occupying a good portion (one half) of Bladedom, i think there should be around 100,000 in their respective empiresThey are occupied, but still shown in your stats, where it says things like (40 000 Occupied) or something like that.

OOC: I feel like the Ottomans. Some things are archaic and please a few but not the government, and it is next to impossible to make sweeping reforms peacefully. :p

OOC: You could have always just done it silver's way ;) Kill everyone and everyone suspected of treason :p Turns out quite nicely I must say though.... :eek:

Hey, i'm cool with regions. It makes sense, because a vast empire has more production capacity than a small one.

but it would have stupid lines all over the map, how annoying

Hey, i'm cool with regions. It makes sense, because a vast empire has more production capacity than a small one.

Well, there was one case of toteone's small country, New Zealand as the CU I think being richer then every country in the world aside from China in Goob's first nes ;)

Iggy, why are there no Bladeists in either the Lengel or Khemri Empires? They are occupying a good portion (one half) of Bladedom, i think there should be around 100,000 in their respective empires

Objection! UKKK Empire.

no one is going to say that, it looks stupid.

Well, there was one case of toteone's small country, New Zealand as the CU I think being richer then every country in the world aside from China in Goob's first nes ;)
Aye, but he's replacing the agricultural economy, and the more land you have, the more wheat you can grow. Iggy, you can say it come with the advances in farming caused by Iron tools and the diaspora of techniques because of the Globalization occuring.

Aye, but he's replacing the agricultural economy, and the more land you have, the more wheat you can grow. Iggy, you can say it come with the advances in farming caused by Iron tools and the diaspora of techniques because of the Globalization occuring.

Well, I kinda doubt the large country=more wheat thing depending on the type of terrain and much. I mean, a massive mountainous Ikki won't be growing much wheat at all...

Globalization? Or you mean the new technology being spread by the Lengel invasions? :confused:

I'm really not fond of province economy at all. But perhaps that's just me.

I would prefer to keep the rules just as they are. We can try new rules in your next NES :).

Turns out quite nicely I must say though....You're encouraging me to kill you all?I would prefer to keep the rules just as they are. We can try new rules in your next NES .Are you encouraging me to kill this? :p

I'm just trying to make stats less of a hassle than they are for me.

I'm just saying, if you insist we will go for it. Push come to shove, we'll root for you :p

ANSWER MY PM!!! :( It's soo important that if thlayli manages to read/intercept it, the whole war effort goes down the drain! :cry:

No, don't end this :( that would make me very sad :(

Do what you want but I prefer the old rules :)

Sorry Iggy. I love the old rules. I wouldn't hate the Region system, but I really like the military system you currently use. If you want to make updating the stats easier, just have us PM you the new stats based on the changes that our orders made. Then all you have to do is the post-update stats. The reason you take so long on stats is because you first write them out without casualties, then add them in later.

Though in the Imperial Age, populations should probably grow faster, and eco points should buy more troops.

EDIT: And I'm sending a counter-PM based on..."intelligence" I may or may not have..."intercepted" from a third party source...

hmm a Hiatus? I would hate to see this NES die, even though my nation is (tecnicly) dead.

hmm a Hiatus? I would hate to see this NES die, even though my nation is (tecnicly) dead.

No! No hiatus! *shoots Terris nonfatally*

Oh yeah? I'll send another counter PM! (It would be hilarious if it turns out we're sending PMs about completely different stuff :lol:)

I had a :p smiley for a reason. I have no plans of ending this. Though a school trip from the end of September until late October will put this and all of my NESing on a month-long hiatus.

So, majority in favor of adopting the regions system?

Well I'm a bit confused...how would this affect city centers?

You only have one, you have nothing to worry about thlayli :p and you won't be geting any more ;)

Where are you going to on the school trip iggy?

You only have one, you have nothing to worry about thlayli :p and you won't be geting any more ;)



You know, I'm pretty sure that the citizens of Saenium are hoarding all that gold I gave them...sheesh, it a center of trade between the fully independent nation of Shangei and New Veritas.

@Thlayli- It wouldn't.

@alex- Vancouver Island! Scuba diving, sailing, sea kayaking are all built into an Experiential Science course. It's going to be awesome.

My only regrets are that I'll miss a month of NESing and my Birthday. (October 13).

You know, I'm pretty sure that the citizens of Saenium are hoarding all that gold I gave them...sheesh, it a center of trade between the fully independent nation of Shangei and New Veritas.

So? :p Are you trying to lure me into attacking? Because I'm not dumb enough to attack there... Or are you trying to use reverse pyschology to try and convince me not to attack there? :crazyeye:

And Shangei doesn't have any goods that you would want :p Aside from rice, the really profitable stuff are around Guanzhong and Shangei ;)

EDIT: Sounds fun, though it would never happen in a US High School. Bloody paranoid people in the government and community :(

So? :p Are you trying to lure me into attacking? Because I'm not dumb enough to attack there... Or are you trying to use reverse pyschology to try and convince me not to attack there? :crazyeye:

And Shangei doesn't have any goods that you would want :p Aside from rice, the really profitable stuff are around Guanzhong and Shangei ;)



At the moment, the trade with Shangei is more export than import. If we were importing goods, technically I'd be losing money. ;)

Ok Iggy, I think that the region system can work...as long as you don't divide the entire map up into provinces. Perhaps you should keep a separate province map like I did for Veritas.

Oh come on... I don't want to do another map! What's wrong with a bunch of thing black lines? It doesn't look bad or anything. See IsrNES2.

EDIT: Sounds fun, though it would never happen in a US High School. Bloody paranoid people in the government and community What do you mean by that?

Well, according to the principal of my high school, we've been banned from going out of the United States on school trips. But this is off topic. :p

Well currently, the thin black lines denote an area independent from the central authority, within the thick black lines.

I'll do the province map if you like. Just tell me what to do.

Well, according to the principal of my high school, we've been banned from going out of the United States on school trips. But this is off topic. :p

Really? I went to Quebec...

OOC: I'd support the region system, buts thats pretty much it. Everything else just seems too complicated to me.

To New Veritas
From Arcadia

In previous times both of our previous homes were the greatest of allies. Despite the distances involved now, we wish to remain an ally of the Valin peoples. We ask that if there is anyway you would be willing to send iron specialists to Arcadia to pass on their knowdlge. We would be willing to *pay* for it, after all.

From: New Veritas
To: Arcadia

Indeed. For one economy point, we will give you the iron technology, and we will send several blacksmiths to instruct you in the use of the metal and the building of furnaces to smelt it. The sons of Davar are always welcome in Redemption.

To New Veritas
From Arcadia

It is agreed. We thank our great ally for their assistance.

OOC: Hopefully it won't take three turns ;].

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. :mischief:

@Darkening- Complicated? It's simpler than messing around with annoying population, which I imagine takes up 20% of my stat updating time.

Well currently, the thin black lines denote an area independent from the central authority, within the thick black lines.Yes. Regions would look just like that. And they'd often share similar boundaries anyway.

Oh, and actually, I don't have a unified system for the use of thin black lines. They can also show recently conquered lands etc.

Anyway, it seems that the regions motion is passed. Now, for a map. I won't give extra regions to larger nations immediately, although they'll appear over the course of the next few updates. Unless you guys are okay with a more sudden shift.

Your call.

Well I don't prefer the little black lines, but I like the system, so go for it. :goodjob:

From: New Veritas
To: Guangfei

*shocked surprise* What? And this, after you vowed to raze every single city in New Veritas, slaughter every Valin to the last child, and created the false religion of the Way of the One? The time for peace has ended, you bloody tyrant. You will cede us the province of Valfei at no cost, and recognize the Kingdom of Shangei, or this war will end with your head on a pike in Redemption.

There will be no middle way.

Sudden shift before the update, blame it on iron and diaspora of farming ideas.

From: New Veritas
To: Guangfei

When you learn to cook your fish, maybe we'll take you seriously.

And thus did the peace negotiations begin to fall apart.

From: New Veritas
To: F.P.P.P.M.C.E.F.

Launch all orbital nukes, immediately.

OOC: Now they've really fallen apart. Nothing like a good Iron Age nuclear war to get things going.

To: The Forces in Orbit Over Tellus
From: The Leperchaun Defense Force

Cease and Desist your action immediatly. We will fire our Lazertronic Missiles at you if Tellus is disturbed.

Stop the spam! If this gets closed down I will go after each and everyone of you! (not like thats really a threat).

@Iggy
*raises fist at darkening*

What? I said less complicated for me, not you ;).

@Thlayli- Sure ;). Just don't leave me hanging this time. I seriously need to build up and having iron would certaintly be a boon to trade.... (gives a slight glance at a certain penguin leader).

I hate to be the annoying one Iggy, but:

Well, PC and NPC stats are updated. Fluff stats will be updated soon after I post this. Feel free to point out errors if you wish. Next update is next weekend.

There appears to be no changes done to the religious stats.

Quick Question Lord Iggy, why is the Lengal's Econemy at 2/1? it should be atleast at 2/3. afterall,t he emorian Eco centers are intact and somewhat functioning. we are being helpfull witht he Lengals after all and the bladest ocupancy was to short to really cause damage. and kernal held out..

heck for that matter, I just relized somethign I forgot to send in. Activly Spread Our farming Tequniques throuout the Lengal Land! after all, emorians now constuit at least 1/4th of the Lengal populations, but we useds a heack of lot less farmalnd. heh. wow.. intergration is fun!

There appears to be no changes done to the religious stats.I've added a new religion and removed two dead ones.

And if the spam brings a mod, I will see to it that a horrible disaster befalls New Veritas AND Guangfei.

@TerrisH- Thanks, I'll fix that in the morning.

No. The fact that there are no Pirian in Nontin or Norvalin.

Well, it might be understandable how Norvalin would resist conversion. They are quite religious, you know.

Well so are my people, yet they converted.

When orders be due?

Friday, but write them NAO so that Iggy can get an early start on the update, since we missed this weekend.

Orders sent!

already sent mine! And if anyone can guess my Tactics and what I am roughly baseing them upon in world history, points to you! ^_^

i hate those new rules!! RAWR FEEL MY RAWTH!! :p

anyway, contempt answer my pm bitte

LIggy, dont change any rules yet. Change them after update if you want. Don't seem to be particularily horrible or anything to me.

Thlayli, alex994, 3 day ban, continued spamming.

I was quite serious when I told y'all to quit spamming.

Evil, like good, lacks a true and definite definition; nevertheless, most people, even despite themselves, can often agree that some actions lack redemption - and thus are evil. For all eternity, these evil deeds have been commited all over the universe, all in accordance with some philosophy. Numerous are the atrocities done in the name of utility, in pursuit of pragmatic gain; but countless are those done in the name of good, in the name of justice and for various other such concepts. Yet how many evil deeds were done explicitly in the name of evil? Not even simple sadism or greed, but in the name of pure evil that is above such petty wrongdoings? Undeniably, there were some such deeds, and they all were noteworthy, deeds of diabolical, strong people that dared challenge everything, dared deliberately go against the world (which rejects pure good and pure evil alike). But even then, the philosophy of evil rarely gained prominence, because of its very simple pointlessness. Most people just want to lead a good, safe, hopefully (not necessarily) comfortable life. Most others are fanatics that fight in the name of pure good, and they too can be understood, to a certain extent, as pretty much everyone would acknowledge that not all is right in the world, and that there are plenty of wrongs that perhaps need to be righted or at least corrected. What wrongs exactly is a very debatable issue, but it is less important. As with people, so with rulers - most of them live and work either for pragmatic gain (for themselves and/or for the state) and simple stability, either to "right wrongs" - in this case, introduce reforms, purge the corrupt, lead crusades and wars of revenge. Philosophy of state is thus divided between pragmaticism and dogmaticism; the ultimate personification of the former is a bureaucratic monarchy or a parliamentary republic, of the latter - a totalitarian system of one allegience or another, but, as dogmaticism and fanaticism is usually also done in the name of pure good, the totalitarian system usually is also a "good" one, for all the practical good that does to the imperfect, sinful populace. The philosophy of pure evil has rarely gained power; in fact, until recently, despite the counterexample of the Drengin Empire in the Galciverse, we would have said that pure evil's rise to power is impossible.

But once, acts in the name of pure evil were considered impossible, because of their senselessness. Yet they still happened. And so, if for a brief moment, the LINESIIverse gained the dubious honour of housing a genuinely evil state.

Now, some things must be said about LINESIIverse. As can be easily discerned from its name, it is a NES universe; that is to say, the strangest things may happen there, as it is ruled by a moderator and its nations are controlled by players, all of them, ofcourse, NESers. A curious experiment, it is a "fresh start" NES, but not set on Earth; instead, it is set on a different planet. Far from all of its secrets have been revealed by its moderator, probably to keep the suspense. As of the 13th century, it sat at the end of one war - during which Veritas, a southern theocratic monotheist state otherwise fairly similar to Rome, was thwarted in its bid for domination and its people, the Valins, dispersed across the Eastern Ocean - and the beginning of another, as Lengels - nearly the same as Mongols, but under different influences - poured into the Cradle (main concentration of civilizations) from the north. By then, several greater civilizations had established themselves in the Cradle - not counting Veritas, we must mention the theocratic, sophisticated, unique Shalamari, militaristic, autocratic, Negroid Gorin and the Graeco-Egyptian, philosophical Khemri - these three were the nations that brought down Veritas and, as the Crystal Ridge Alliance, now stood poised to clash with the Lengels. There were lesser countries in the CRA as well - the various periphereal, semi-barbaric nations of the west and the post-Veritasian nations of the east, and lastly, Gerber, an ancient, but weak and backwater nation, notable for its reckless militarism and xenophobia, and constant frustration of great territorial ambitions.

It is there that evil would take hold, ofcourse. Never the best of people in the first place, with their constant defeats and isolation the Gerberians grew ever more bitter. Their wars, initially driven by the logic of lebensraum and expansion, gradually gained an element of vengeance, and after a while Gerber was beginning to simply lash out at all around it, like a mad caged lion. Though Gerber once had a proud oral tradition and sophisticated culture, all that mostly stagnated and died away by now, and foreign influence that might have reinvigorated Gerber's culture was viciously resisted, until recently. The early 13th century saw an apparent thaw, as Gerber entered the CRA and begun inviting foreign specialists for great reforms and building projects. It was being pushed onwards to progress by the man who would later turn it around and push it with even greater force in the different direction; back then, he was known as Toghol-Advisor. The increasingly senile, corrupt and weak kings of the Cecilid bloodline depended on their advisors and courtiers, and they often got the real power in the state; however, they usually were soon displaced by newer favourites and overthrown by conspiracies. Toghol-Advisor displaced all those that stood in his path, and with all his ingenuity and great capacity for intrigue, quashed conspiracies like bugs, eventually growing bored and playing them off against each other intricately.

Just as we have examined Gerber's past for the factors that drove it to evil, so we must examine the past of Toghol-Advisor; alas, little is known of the man who, for a few decades until his death, made pure evil a state philosophy. Alas, we know little of his past, but for Aghol-Chronist's scroll "The Most Evil Man in the World":
1. He descended from an ancient family of noblemen and advisors.
2. His father was the son of a City-Governor of Rusicade, and his mother was the daughter of Trekar-General.
3. His father Kurar-Ambassador was one of Gerber's greatest ambassadors, and with him Toghol had travelled in many countries.
4. In this manner he had learned much of the outside world, and gained much wisdom from this.
5. He had learned that the other nations of the Crystal Ridge were stronger and more advanced, and that much could be learned from them.
6. And he had also learned of their contempt and arrogance towards Gerber, akin to Iktar-Nobleman's contempt towards the poor.

It is not a source that might be considered completely reliable; surprisingly enough, despite its title, it is more similar to Togholist propaganda than to anti-Togholist. However, we have no better sources, so this will have to do. We have no knowledge of Trekar-General, but some unofficial Khemri sources do mention an "Ambassador Krar of the Gerbers", who, with an unspecified entourge, arrived in Khadon travelling from Shalamari; as before that, the Gerbers didn't have normal diplomatic relations with Shalamari (ever since the 10th century, when the Shalamari religious aggression caused one of the first known cases of xenophobic reaction in Gerber, back then culminating with the expulsion of all Crystalists (followers of the Shalamari religion)), it would seem that Kurar-Ambassador did play an important role in the diplomacy of the age. In any case, Toghol had from the start been more exposed to foreign cultures than most other Gerberians, and thus gained a far greater knowledge of them - knowledge mixed, as usual with the Gerberians, with suspicion, further fueled by "contempt and arrogance"; indeed, the Shalamari attitude towards Gerber at least could be described thusly quite accurately; an 11th century correspondence quite arrogantly, if rightly, boasted of Shalamari's supremacy in all fields of culture. Accordingly, Toghol-Advisor's early policies when he did come to power mixed greater ties and learning from Gerber's neighbours with xenophobia and nationalism, back then, however, mostly directed against the Valins; the "devalinization" of Gerberian city names was a fairly infamous gesture in its time, especially as Valin influence on Gerber nomenclature was extremelly limited (far greater was the influence of Khemri).

Earlier we have mentioned pragmatic and dogmatic doctrines; back when Toghol-Advisor was, indeed, just an advisor - if a one with unlimited power - he had, as many other great rulers, mixed both. The dogma of Gerber patriotism was mixed with the pragmatic doctrine of self-strenghthening; pragmatical reforms and invitation of specialists mixed with the dogmatical ultranationalist actions, like the devalinization and the fostering of an arteficial church renaissance to block foreign influences. However, back then Toghol-Advisor showed no signs of "evilness", merely a normal level of ruthlessness. Nevertheless, it is safe to assume that an open-minded individual - like he undeniably was, in his personal life - was at least slightly, overcoming certain primal disgust, interested in the rising heresies of the time. The growing cruelty and destruction in war was combined with the fears of Lengels approaching and indeed the cultural reinvigoration caused by Gerber's opening up; on this ground, numerous eschatological cults appeared, playing on the feeling of upcoming doom. As Lengels overran nation after nation in the north, many felt that this was the end of the world; for some, this was a cause to do good deeds, to try and redeem themselves before Life; for others, this was the reason to make the most of it, to feast in the middle of a plague. If there's no future, said some, then all is allowed! All those who thought so were cracked down upon by the church and the state alike, ofcourse, but Toghol-Advisor's increasing recklessness and audacity no doubt had a similar source, if it was not inspired by the eschatologists or the proto"anarchists" themselves. This audacity, however, could also be attributed to Toghol-Advisor's sense of "interesting times" incoming; not a superstitious man at all (some later historians even claimed that he was an agnostic), he believed that this was not the end. The Lengels were but men; they could be slain, they could be defeated. But they were certainly strong, far stronger than Gerber, perhaps stronger than the entire CRA... it was then that Toghol-Advisor, with his usual unconventionality, came up with an innovative decision; if you cannot beat them, he probably thought, join them! And so:

45. Returning, Ighril-Advisor reported to the king that the Lengel hold there is strong, and that the land is changed completely, ruined and rebuilt.
[...]
47. But to Toghol, Ighril said far more - he said that the Lengels were able to make further war, and willing to do so.
48. When the king asked Toghol whether they should have war or peace with the Lengels, Toghol replied simply that they should wait.
49. The Lengels, he explained, have nothing to fight over with Gerber.
[...]
54. And in this manner, revenge was attained and Tristaria was conquered to much rejoicing.
55. Some had tried to kill Toghol, claiming that he had started a dishonorable war and that he had betrayed a fellow civilized nation to the Lengels.
56. But he crushed the conspiracy, and declared that the Lengels were yet to offend Gerber, while the Tristarians offended and betrayed it since the days of the First Cecil-King.

Though Gerber was not yet in alliance in the Lengels, it had already benefited from avoiding clashes with them - and picking up the pieces after them, getting revenge on the hated Tristarians.

Now, it is not our goal here to examine either the diplomatic or the military events of the time in any detail, so we shall skip that, for the most part, giving only the most rudimentary knowledge. In mid-13th century, as mentioned by Aghol-Chronist, while the Lengels overran Davar (another Gerberian enemy) and invaded Tristaria, Toghol-Advisor ordered a backstabbing attack on Tristaria, de facto partitioning it with the Lengels. Initial Gerberian proposal to buy out the rest of Tristaria was rejected; however, soon after, the CRA begun preparing to strike at the Lengels. Thinking their planned invasion senseless and doomed, Toghol-Advisor, after raising initial doubts, suddenly dropped them and helped develop a near-impeccable plan, which then was forwarded to the Lengels - Gerber was already "offended" by all the members of the CRA, and constantly frustrated by it in its territorial ambitions (from even before the Veritasian war, when Khemri and Veritas prevented a Gerberian annexation of the Mogul Empire), while "the Lengels were yet to offend Gerber" and could be worked with. Thus, when the CRA struck against the Lengels, with some surprising initial success, the Gerberians not only protested this invasion early on, but also, after it bogged down somewhat, sturck at the Shalamari, decimating their core lands. The Shalamari struck back; as Toghol-Advisor's armies proved insufficient, he killed the last Cecil-King, trying to pass him off as a scapegoat, and himself fled into the countryside with some supporters, leaving a good half of Gerber's population to die under Shalamari swords. His role in those times was that of a jackal, a traitor, a coward, an irreponsible, manipulative near-stereotypical villain and "bad advisor" of Gerber folklore. His means were often undeniably evil and amoral. But his goal still wasn't evil, it was neutral and pragmatical as usual. That was in 1280, by the Veritasian calendar; in Gerberian calendar, however, it was the First Year of the First Toghol-King, as Toghol-Advisor did have himself coronated. But till the end of that year, he still was the pragmatic Toghol-Advisor, who, upon the failure of his plans, still saw it fit to beg for peace, sacrificing the personal and dogmatic pleasure of revenge for the greater good of his country. In 1281, however, he became the First Toghol-King, a ruthless man who cared not for people or country, who no longer seeked to better anything, who now had only one goal - serving evil, serving it to all that were weaker than he. This man took back - nay, threw aside his past words about peace, and ignored - nay, looked in a strange and vicious glee at the suffering of his people. This man, according to Aghol-Chronist, chose "the former option" when asked by Shalamari and Lengel ambassadors for "war or peace", even though back then it seemed to be equal to suicide.

What had changed him? Did his coronation catch up with him, as did the death of friends and foes alike at the burning Cirta from which he fled into the night? Did he, after that night of greatest fear in his life, lost all fear, including fear of evil and fear of punishment? Was he inspired by evil commited by both sides - and too decided that there was nothing to be lost, and, just as he had once betrayed civilization to ally with the Lengels that seemed to threaten all and used them for his own purposes, now betrayed the very humanity and embraced death, war, destruction and evil in its purest form, again - and again, succesfully - turning what seemed an enemy to all into a formidable ally for himself? Did he simply, as Aghol-Chronist suggests, meditate at the ancient and obscure "Bezerk Altar" and decide to convert to evil, to become at one with it and unleash it might against his enemies? It remains unclear. But if before, his actions were bound - by the presence of the court and of the king, by fear of whatever and by the presence of wealth and power (he retained the latter, at least, but even then, his power, though de jure far strengthened, was de facto curtailed considerably by Gerber's general collapse) that hecould yet lose - now he was free. He was free of morality, free of all human considerations - in this much, the otherwise-apocryphic "Scroll of the Evil Ritual" was correct. The greatest freedom is freedom of - and FROM - conscience. Few have ever achieved it. The First Toghol-King had, and he boasted of it in the open, for he was free from fear as well.

He also immediately showed that he was also free from tradition, from conventionality; immediately after rejecting peace, he begun working feverishly to break what remained of Gerber's ancien regime - already crippled by the Shalamari invasion - and to replace all that was old with things new, unconventional, untraditional. He subjugated the church, and broke the power of the old nobility to replace it with a new one - a one loyal to him and only to him. His entire army was destroyed - alright, he assembled a new one, and instead of sending it to fight in the open, he ordered the use of guerrila tactics, and the Shalamari, harassed and taking horrible losses, had no choice but to retreat. Meanwhile, stunned by the easiness of his success, the First Toghol-King begun freely massacring all that opposed him even slightly, elevating and casting down members of his new court and retinue as he saw fit, destroying and recreating Gerber's culture... he went mad with power, and it gave him a noticeable edge against everyone, for there was nothing that he wasn't prepared to do, or at least attempt. He genocided entire peoples, he helped destroy the Shalamari, he cancelled all the old laws and created new ones, apppointed and demoted heirs at will, and thus, without any foreign help... reinvigorated Gerber, prevented it from sinking into mediocrity, made it unique - if with a negative inuniqueness - and, in destroying what was once, destroyed all that held Gerber back. At the conclusion of his reign, Gerber, though still largely in ruins, had wildly expanded to the east and the west, and thrown out of stagnation. Evil, and chaos, have that effect - the effect, perhaps, of a dangerous, potentially-lethal medicine that might, however, prove a miracle cure if applied in just the right dose.

In any case, however, the First Toghol-King did not live forever, and after his death, Gerber returned to normalcy... or tried to. Ofcourse, the worst excesses of the First Toghol-King were removed by his nephew, the Second Toghol-King, and evil as a state philosophy failed to hold out for long (not that the First Toghol-King actually tried to firmly establish it as such). But the old Gerber was dead, and it could not be resurrected. The old nobility and clergy was mostly slaughtered or destroyed, and old culture was trampled and mangled. In his rampage, the First Toghol-King destroyed all the bridges, and, whether this was his intention or not, made return impossible, there could be no retreat. Thus now, Gerber had no choice but to advance into the unknown future, without looking back, advance and advance, bereft of the old comfort of age-long tradition, but also bereft, as already mentioned, of the many things that held Gerber back in the past. For better or worse, it had no choice but to embrace progress. As in the name of good, great evils are commited, so in the name of evil can good deeds be done.

Intresting story das, although I'm more intrested in the new direction you'll be taking...

Well duh. Frankly I'm not decided on that one myself; I did send orders, but nothing groundbreaking should happen yet, I'm still recovering from that Shalamari rampage.

heheh its funny really, what you've done is just completly wiped the slate clean, yet you've still managed to bind your people together. You could take ANY direction and it could work.

Yep, I love such freedom of action, it was worth the near-genocide of my entire population. Sadly I'm hemmed in between several powerful empires, so I will need all the unity and innovativeness that I could get just to survive...

Expand into the Valin states when you get the chance :p

Awesome story das!

BTW guys, I'm fixing the stat errors you pointed out.

Norvalin has no Pirians, though Nontin does.

Iggy, couple of Q's

I take it I can only continue one project (the island pinicles) at this moment in time.

The small Nurmaferian warlords, are they going to get absorbed by me? Or do I have to beat up the small isles of Anranfer myself :(

Glad to see you like it. I had intended to write it long ago but various things got in the way.

Iggy, couple of Q's

I take it I can only continue one project (the island pinicles) at this moment in time.

The small Nurmaferian warlords, are they going to get absorbed by me? Or do I have to beat up the small isles of Anranfer myselfYes, you have to finish the pinnacles before adopting the new project.

And the Nurmaferi warlords won't just surrender to you. You'll have to bring around your integration yourself, or just leave them to fester on their remaining lands.

*mutter* whilst I don't care about the warlords on the interior, that Island HAS to be mine, GAHH. Do I have ANY idea on their approx numbers? do they have any sort of fleet they can scrape together?

They have a fairly pathetic, ragtag fleet, and barely enough troops to maintain the Island Fortress' walls. A hard blow will shatter them.

mhmmm ok Thank you.

Must write another story soon. (I can finish my update quickly seeing as theirs only one war :p)

nice story das, i hope you go in a non-genocide way this time

Hope, as they say, dies last. ;)

does it ever really die?

After I genocide it, it will. ;) But this is becoming spam again, and this thread is becoming notorious for spam andensuing mod intervention. Iggy, so the update is on Friday?

i thought the update would be on saturday? cause i don't think i can get orders in by them

Its the Weekend sometime

orders sent

Update on the weekend, orders by Friday.

Iggy, how far do my contacts extend?

Khemri is the most distant. You know nothing of the eastern coast, and only distant rumours of the Bladeists.

Khemri is the most distant. You know nothing of the eastern coast, and only distant rumours of the Bladeists.
And how cool they are:p

To: Arcadia, and the World
From: Norvalin

Quite recently, we recived the following message-

To Assemblum Popularum Norvalin
From Bishop Caen of Arcadia

You ignorant fools! Do you not think we have ears in that little assemblum of yours? Do you not think we hear the way the wind howls? Do you think that there is a chance in hell you will get away with this treachery?

Not once have we shown any aggression towards you, a people we still consider our allies! You betray us at every corner and yet we still consider you our friends! I guess it shows you what friendship really means to you all, doesn't it?

Are you ignorant of the past of this world? We are the descendants of your ancestors greatest allies! Time after time we supported your ancestors without uttering a single word! Our men died together in the hills of Khermi! And now you seek to break all bonds of friendship for your own damn greed!

Now this now and read this very carefully: Should a single Norvalin souldier step onto soverign Arcadian soil we will burn you to the ground. You are not the only one with allies you fools. We will burn Unias. We will burn Varlas, We will burn Paridum. Your allies may come and defeat us, but I swear your will go up in flames before it can happen!

Retreat from our borders immediatly. We have no intention of attacking your pitiful people. But know this:you will not get away with anything. We have ears throughout your assemblem, throughout your army, and throughout your populace. Take this warning and do the right thing: call off this ridicoulus attempt of war you bring.

The truth of the matter is, we of Norvalin did intend war, without thinking of other options. But we, unlike those of Veritas of old, understand that sometimes mistakes can be made. We wish to undo this mistake, before thousands of lives are lost. We wished for war because Arcadian forces pushed Norvalin converted Arcadians from their homes in Venix. We did not want to retreat, and so we of Norvalin intended to fight a war, just so that the former Arcadian Norvalins would have their homelands back.

And now, we understand how stupid we were. War is a last resort. It is not something that is undergone unless every other option is unreasonable.

To that end, we propose the following treaty.

The Treaty of Venix

Seeing as thousands of Norvalin have their homelands in Venix, Arcadia cedes Venix to the Norvalin government. In exchange for that, Norvalin signs with Arcadia an eternal peace.

We urge Arcadia to accept this treaty. Otherwise, we belive we will then be out of options, and we will be forced to invade.

To Norvalin
From Arcadia

Your lies have no place with us you fool. You say thousands have their homes in Venix? What about the countless more Arcadians that call the city home and who, with their hard work, have built the city! The four thousand, a mere fraction of the population, have already left Venix to your squallard lands. Do not say one thing and then speak out of the corner of your mouth to us. Venix is Arcadian. Do you even know of the city of Venix? It was built by Pirian faithful, the faithful that outnumber the rest of your pitiful tratiors.

We thought you foolish valin would have learned your lesson after the second exile and yet your still the same: greedy and sinful! You go against the One by openly seeking to annex soverign Arcadian lands and bring war to your faithful allies.

The only way thousands of lives will be lost if you intend on keeping your course. We do not fear war. Our soverignty will never be surrendered. We will fight to the last man until you are pushed back to your native borders. Do not think you can win this war. Your government, like all republics, is riddled with our spies. We will know where you strike, where you break all bonds of brotherhood. Avoiding this war is entirely in your hands. But know this: you will not win.

OOC: Iggy if he invades me, shouldn't some of his people be unhappy and not go along with his foolish plan? I mean, Arcadians (due to Davians) have always been the Valins greatest ally, and that should count for something.

To The Valin League
From Arcadia

Do you see the pitiful way your brothers treat your greatest allies? We stood with your people through the thick and the thin, through it all until the Valins themselves gave up hope. Yet Norvalin seeks to claim a soverign Arcadian city that has no place in Norvalin. We ask that you condem you sinful allies before the invoke the anger of the One once more.

OOC: Iggy if he invades me, shouldn't some of his people be unhappy and not go along with his foolish plan? I mean, Arcadians (due to Davians) have always been the Valins greatest ally, and that should count for something.Most Norvalins would like to see you united, but they definitely do not want a war with you. Some are growing angered at their government for its somewhat aggressive move, some are upset about the harm to relations, and a few diehards support war.

do i have contact with the trinlin?

To: Arcadia
From: Norvalin

Our offer stands. One, small city, we wish for, as it is the home of four thousand of our people. Your army forced them out of their very homes (this is true, read the update) and we cannot allow our brethren to be exiled again.

Though it was at one point, war is no longer our primary plan. All we want is our people's homes back. The territory we wish you to cede is negligable, but if you do not give it up, we have no choice but to go to war with your nation.

Don't suffer any illusions about how such a war would go. Your army is made up of only 2000 Spearmen, and 14 Slops. Our army consists of three thousand spearmen, one thousand Returned, one thousand swordsman, and our navy is more that twice your size. Furthermore, we outproduce you nation half-again.

All we want is one small city, that we consider your nation to have occupied unlawfully. We would be disgraced if we persued war after ataining that goal.

Give up Venix, and you never have to worry about Norvalin agression, ever again.

I think this perfectly demonstrates my critiscisms about The League.

I mean This is just handing someone (me perhaps) a golden oppurtunity to lever apart the alliance.

Not really. Read the update. Venix really is a Norvalin homeland. And, regardless of that, Norvalin would never leave the alliance.

Sure if you can promise me that this won't cause resement between either you or darkening, I'll beleive you.

But I don't, cause I think there WILL be resentment.

i think a league of this magnitude, in the iron age, across an OCEAN, is improbable

@Imago- An Arcadian Oneist minority of four thousand was booted out. There's another 10 000 Pirian Arcadians. None of the population is Norvalin.

Two stories from Thlayli.

Against the West

“I had wanted to die knowing that New Veritas was safe and secure. While I will not, my children will.”

-Last words of Stratikrator Triarion Panteras

Part Three:

The gates of the Citadel slowly swung outward. Four feet thick, it had taken twenty oaks chopped from the virgin forests of the White Mountains to build them. Thick bars of iron braced the backs of each door, and it required five men on each side to man the winches that slowly slid them out. Within the wood of the gates was set a metallic seal, pressed deep into the oak. Two spears crossed before a tree, below the Phoenix Rampant, the personal seal of the Stratikrator. The seal was divided by the opening gates, which gave one final groan, and stopped.

The ten Sentries of the Gate inside saluted with their falchions, and the Host-Lords walked between them. Directly within the gate there was a small courtyard, only able to hold two hundred men in close quarters. It was covered on all four sides by arrow slits, since any army that managed to breach the gate would be forced to pass this way. If enough garrison troops could be found, it would be a deathtrap for any attacker, even with the best weaponry. Gregorian took a moment to admire the tactical genius of the man who had designed the fortress as he passed on. Nearly fifteen hundred years of experience with fortification hadn’t come to nothing. At the end of the square was a smaller door, these made from reforged iron entirely, thanks to their smaller size. Beyond these doors lay a hall, cold and austere, but it was after all a fortress. Some tapestries had been hung on the walls, though, those that could be brought from Veritas.

Vandrios paused to admire the heroic charge of the First Latis Septiate in the Battle of Guitar, an epic weaving that stretched over twenty feet. That unit was known for its bravery in military texts throughout the Valin nations…for that, and the fact that almost every member throughout the centuries had perished in battle.

Soon they reached the center of the citadel, marked by the meeting point of three hallways. A circular stairway reached upwards. Wordlessly, they began to climb. There was no lift, and no easy way up, especially in the Tower of Command.

---

“Conaivium, anchor the ships, and then lead your men up the main causeway. Septilions Cristonian, Harconias, Veralioi, take your forces to the left of the harbor, and around the rear of the fort. Septilions Centrios, Salenias, and Olarion, follow my unit!”

“AYE, HOST-LORD!”

The wreckage of the riverboats that had opposed Host-Lord Gregorian’s fleet drifted slowly down stream. Half of the Badong Harbor had collapsed from the bombardment of the catapults, but the other was swarming with New Veritasan soldiers. On the shore, hand-to-hand combat had broken out between the advance forces of both armies.

Host Lord Gregorian walked swiftly down the gangplank, the crowd of soldiers around him saluting. Soon Septilions began to bellow out orders to their Tacticas, who in turn ordered their Decadions, who formed up the individual squads. The chaos at the harbor began to turn into order. Within five minutes, the majority of his Septiliates were ready for combat.

“Veralioi, Olarion. Clear our men from those beaches, and send a volley to cover their retreat.”

The war horn called out, and the vanguard on the beaches began to retreat. A ragged cheer broke out from the Guangfei units still standing…until five hundred arrows fell thick and fast in their positions. The twenty men still standing broke, running back towards the village. Forty-five Veritasans rejoined their comrades.

“Good. Draw your weapons. Septilions, you have your orders. Men of Veritas, TAKE THIS CITY FOR THE REPUBLIC!”

“AYE, HOST-LORD!”

The army advanced down the beach, splitting into the two pincers of Gregorian’s strategy As he looked past his army towards, Badong, he heard a gong ring out. The fort’s doors opened, and a long column of men issued out. About five hundred, he reasoned. That was a large garrison, but not enough to repel his men. Soon the main force had reached the edge of the city. Motioning to his personal guard, Gregorian decided that it was safe for the commander (being him) to move closer.

The leading units fanned out, silently entering homes and investigating. All went well for several minutes…until three archers popped up from the roof of a large temple, launching shots into the army. Similar snipers appeared on the roof of the opposite building. He heard one of his Septilions bellow out orders, but he fell as an arrow pierced his shoulder. He was back up soon enough, though…Salenias always had been a fighter, Gregorian remembered. A short melee on the rooves ended with the predictable death of the archers. But there was a new threat, as the bulk of Guangfei’s garrison was marching down the main causeway to confront the army.

Seeing this, Gregorian decided to take personal command. Ordering his guards forward, they pushed their way towards the center of his men’s ranks. He consulted his lieutenants.

“It looks like they’re relying on spears and axes. I’m sure that their crossbowmen are still in the fort. Give them three volleys, and then retreat slowly, firing at will. Then make a charge.”

The three septilions nodded.

Gregorian raised his arm.

“ARCHERS! LOAD BOWS!”

Five-hundred bowstrings went taut as they were pulled back. Torches were passed around the men. Guangfei’s soldiers were almost in range.

“FIRE!”

The Rain of Fire fell among Guangfei’s men, and several fell. They broke into a charge. Gregorian’s forces retreated slowly, launching two more volleys. Then they waited for the oncoming Guangfeis, whose units had fallen apart in the charge.

“CHARGE!”

The Veritasan units swarmed forwards, crashing into their Guangfei counterparts. Archers drew daggers, and Gregorian’s guard drew their scimitars. Soon the battle was joined. From the beginning Guangfei’s forces had started to waver, and the casualties they took to arrows had decreased their numbers seriously. But then one of Gregorian’s personal guards fell…but it was one of the men standing behind him. Damn! Guangfei had placed other archers on the roofs of the town, but had waited until this point to use them!

Gregorian tried to signal Centrios, but then he took a spear through the stomach. So he ordered two nearby Tactica, and half his personal guard to clean out the remaining archers.

“Men, rally to me! Rally for the Republic!”

---

It seemed like they had climbed for an eternity. But Vandrios was so lost in thought, he couldn’t tell. But then, abruptly, they stumbled out into the War Room, the headquarters of the Stratikrator. Vandrios had never seen it before, though Gregorian had. He drew a surprised breath.

They were so high up. The entire city of Redemption lay out before them, silent and sparkling. The moon cast a slim light down, illuminating the gray stone of the walls. The Basilica, and the Halls of the Assemblum could be seen almost directly below, and farther off, the tents of the Haggles like some huge carnival. Then he spotted the Shepherds Quarter, and beyond, the green fields of the countryside. It seemed almost unreal. He squinted, and thought that he could see the White Mountains far in the distance.

The staircase came up in the center of the chamber. The Stratikrator’s personal quarters were located directly above…for obvious reasons, any Stratikrators with a fear of heights would never again be chosen. But the War Room was where he and his generals would meet to plan campaigns. It was a plain room, with one wall covered by a vast map of Tellus, marking the locations and strengths of the Legioni’s hosts. Large glass windows looked out on the city, and the sea.

The room was five sided. On each side of the room lay a statue. Statues of the greatest Host-Lords to ever live.

Dominius. The legendary first Stratikrator. Conqueror of Zibon, and unifier of Emor.

Strategius. The Autorex, the Greatest Stratikrator. Reformer of Veritas, abolisher of slavery, and conqueror of Eldrania.

Sempronius. The Successor to Strategius. The conqueror of Khadon and Alexandria, and the slayer of the Khemran King in single combat.

Cendrian. Cendrian the Selfless, the victor at the great Battle of the Crystal Ridge. Conqueror of Said, he sacrificed his own life knowingly, to give Veritas time to rebuild its armies.

Panteras. Conqueror of Sintonia. Conqueror of Krenel. And Conqueror of Valfei, builder of the Stratikrator’s Citadel, and the last Stratikrator to live.

Vandrios took a moment to absorb it all…and then jumped, as the voice of a man shocked him out of his contemplation.

“Host-Lord Gregorian, and Host-Lord Vandrios. We greet you. Unfortunately, you are late, and the Legioni are weak.”

The High Elder, and the Council of Elders, was sitting on chairs behind them. And behind their chairs was the Exodian Ocean. The Endless Ocean. It mixed with their blue robes, and the moon’s rays glinted off the silver staff in the hands of the High Elder. Every High Elder had held that silver staff since the first, or so the legend went. It once held a great blue sapphire, or a purple amethyst depending on the story. But in grief and rage, the jewel was broken off by Pacian the Incarnate, and cast into the sea. Now it was just a silver staff.

The Host-Lords bowed. “My lords and fathers, we greet you.”

The High Elder cleared his throat.

“Let us begin, since time is short. Vandrios. You were tasked with the destruction of Guangzhou, and the capture of the Emperor. You failed in this, at the Battle of Guangzhou. However, you rallied a large number of tribal warriors to your cause, and executed an acceptable fighting retreat. You forced your way through the mountain passes, to link up with Stratikrator Panteras, and provide him the reinforcements necessary to win the Second Battle of Qingdao. Before he died, he passed command of the city to you, an admirable show of trust. Despite your failure, we believe that the One has smiled on your efforts, intending you to reach Valfei all along.”

“You honor me with your words.”

“Now, Gregorian. You proposed a plan of your own design, for which we gave you six Septiliates, and twenty ships. With this small force, you managed to eliminate Guangfei’s navy in the region. Then you seized and captured Badong and Faitei with fewer than one hundred dead. Finally, you negotiated with and succeeded in convincing the Shangei people to join our cause. Your objectives all met with total success.”

“As it may become clear now, our choice for Stratikrator is Gregorian. Both of you have tactical and strategic skill, excellent leadership, and the ability to win battles with the odds against you. However, Gregorian demonstrated superior ingenuity and creativity in doing so, showing that he can not just manage the military responsibilities that being a Stratikrator entails, but also the diplomatic ones. We wholeheartedly nominate you for Supreme Command of the Legioni.”

Gregorian bowed, smiling.

“I accept this command, for the One, and for his holy nation New Veritas. I will serve until my death, or until the Assemblum sees fit to replace me.”

“Good. Vandrios, we know that you are an excellent commander, and a worthy second in command to the Stratikrator. If Gregorian dies in combat or is captured, you will become the Stratikrator in the event of that occurrence.”

Vandrios laughed.

“I had never wanted this command in the first place, with all due respect to the Assemblum. If you had chosen me, I would have recommended Gregorian in my place. I wholeheartedly endorse your decision. Congratulations, my friend.”

Then Vandrios joined the Council in the traditional salute.

“Hail to the One, and Hail to Stratikrator Gregorian!”

---
Epilogue:

Gregorian’s forces were arrayed in front of the fortress’ gate. A flag of truce had been raised, and the commander of the fort, resplendent in his solid plate armor, came forward. He laughed heartily, and the sound of it bellowed out into the silent town. Then he addressed the Veritasan host in halting Valin.

“Host-Lord Gregorian! You have lost your battle, as we all can see. Your troops have failed to take my mighty fort, and the people of Badong will soon rise up to destroy you.”

Gregorian smiled. “Go on, this is very entertaining.”

“Even if by a miracle you were to take my fort, the numberless legions of the Dragon Throne will destroy you! And there is something you have not considered! My crossbowmen, whom I have hidden from you.”

About two hundred crossbowmen appeared on the parapets of the fort. Gregorian rolled his eyes.

“Oh my, that was certainly unexpected.”

“Ha! Now do you not see that victory is hopeless? But for your valiant attempt, the Dragon Throne will spare the lives of your men, in return for your unconditional surrender. What is your answer?”

Gregorian pondered this. Picking up a horn from his aide, he smiled.

“Our answer? Why, it is war.”

Then he blew the horn. A cloud of arrows appeared overhead, but behind Guangfei’s forces on the wall. Gregorian’s second pincer had arrived, and the fort was caught in the trap. The commander was hit in the back of the head, and toppled over the parapet.

As the siege ladders and battering ram approached the walls, Gregorian called for an archer from his personal guard.

“Do you see that flag up there? Yes, that one. Please do the honors.”

The flaming arrow glowed white hot as it flew into the air, leaving a trail of fire like a phoenix. It struck the flag of the Dragon Throne, dead center. And as the tattered flag burst into flames, Pacian’s prophecy was made real at last.

Nice story, stories....*blinks*

I really need to work on my Military actually, as most my stories revolve around the King or religion :p

i think a league of this magnitude, in the iron age, across an OCEAN, is improbable

I suppose you want the mod to break up the league? just because you dont like it?

It can break up on its own.

It can break up on its own.

I know, but he seems to think his opinion matters on the subject.

Edit: If they want to be a part of a league you cant exactly tell them no and stop them from making it, just because Mr Kentharu doesnt like it.

Prince Dysionis, Commander of The Southern UKKK Armies, camped approximatly 1000m above sea level in the UKKK's Toe-Hold in the Bladeist Mountains, From the nearby peaks you could barely make out a city, thought to be the City of Swade, inbetween dense foliage, that of a jungle.

Not a kilometre away was the Samnade Pass, some men were still suffering from wounds, unfortunatly the long distances to even the nearest cities, made total comfort hard, so they had to make do with camp medications; amputations were not infrequent. The wounded men however constitued an irritating drain on supplies which was difficult enough to get up into the mountains, never mind over a large plain and accross a desert, thankfully the System of Roads the Swade had built up over the years stood in good stead, and eased the burden somewhat, but it still proved an irriation, especially if they had to move down into the dark, dank jungle below.

Then of course there were the Swade Survivors, those not run down by the awesome weight of the Cataphratori. Prince Dysionis had let the few surviors see to their comrades left on the field. Mostly however the dead bodies were burnt, to avoid attracting any diseases from the dead natives, or indeed attracting any of the beasts that inhabitated the Jungle.

***

Further away, the Prince Ptolmey, heir Apparant, was furthering his tutoring in the ways of the battlefield in a much more upfront style, he was equipped as part of the Cataphratori, and was engaging in another minor skirmish against the ever numerous Nurmaferian Warlords of the region.

He had chosen to field a force of only Horsearchers and Cataphratori, Demonstrating some skill with Charging in with the Cataphratori, with the horse archers in support the Cataphratori would pull out again, rest, and then charge home again. The Only thing truly hampering the Cataphratori was the lack of a stirrup, but the Cataphratori themselves, and none of the other contemperies knew this, all they was that sometimes the force of a Lance hitting home threw them off the horse. (the lance being tied to the horse in various place, to ensure the full weight of the Horse was behind the tip of the lance.), this led to a rather unfortunate scenrio where a thrown Cataphratori would be swarmed and killed when the others pulled back to rest up for their next charge. None the less Prince Ptolmey found the work Invigorating.

True to form, or rather his Grandfathers form, he was thrown off his horse, and the heir apparant died (after which of course, the troops with which he'd been campaigning with were mighty annoyed at this turn of events, and having become very loyal and vetren soldier, became a bit...fanatical about the retreival of Prince's body and punishing the people who had done this. The field was later found littered with Impaled bodied).

A Small Crypt was built for the Prince (there being no towers nearby) near the City of New Turfar, whilst an undetermined distance away, Prince Dysionis Turned north to look over the lands of his Father, as the sun set, nestling inbetween two peaks, Heir apparant.

OOC: got REALLY bored of the Ptolmey line name, this is the new Line name after update :p

oh god. You know what, I shouldn't be uttering a word. But do you think you scare me Imago? Why don't you actually go have a chat with Emu and see what he has to say. There is sure fire way to piss me off, and that is trying to force me to surrnder. Trust me. If you declare war there will be no peace between us. I'll fight until I'm defeated. Sure. You have a stronger army. But you're overlooking several key elements.

To Norvalin
From Arcadia

You fools. You consider us the occupiers unlawfully? You just ignore the larger Arcadian presence in the city. A few traitors choose to join with you, but the majority of the city called on our government to stop you. You call not talk business with us. What if we were to demand a city of yours? The blood of your people will be in your hands- and it will never be fully repaid. You have lost all forms of trust that you have had with us and as such you will never be trusted again. Do know that if you illegailly invade us, there will be no peace again.

Venix is really a Norvalin homeland

In what world? Your little imaginary world? Arcadians built the city. Arcadians outnumber your pathetic little traitors in the city. The city is mine and if you declare war, it still won't become yours. Yes call in your damn little alliance. But guess what? Your biggest supporter is facing another war- so don't count on him. Exilsum? I hope he has enough common snese to see what you're doing. Tellium I coulnd't care less about. But I tell you one thing, you'll be dead before they arrive.

OOC: Kal you could always drive it apart by assisting finacially ;]. Who knows, this coould be the complete break between Pirians and regular oneists. This turn shall appear to be a big surprise to everyone.

Shush Darkening, don't hint at such dark things :p

not yet anyhoo.

Oh I've just begun Kal. If Imago thinks he even has a chance of defeating me, dark things will come abound.

it was a comment emu, just like how people commented on the improbability of the CRA

it was a comment emu, just like how people commented on the improbability of the CRA

You'll find I disagreed with them doing that

Tellium I coulnd't care less about.

Huh? What did I do? As far as I can tell the Valin League consists of New Veritas and Norvalin (maybe Verta too)

To Arcadia
From Tellium

Despite your poor opinion of us your money is always good. We would like to open trade and exchange Iron tools and paper for pure refreshing glacial ice and woolly ramid hides.

To: Arcadia
From: Norvalin

Homelands are homelands. Due to the strength of the Norvalin cause, a third of the population of Venix decided to leave their city, and their very homes, to join us. Only the One knows how many would be loyal, if they had been not forced to make such a drastic choice.

We have offered a peace, a fair peace, one which would not harm you economicly. Venix and invirons is a small area, and even after its seccesion, you would have many, many places to expand in the direction of. Your nation would hardly be crippled, and justice would be served.

But you have refused us.

Up to the very last moment, we offer you a chance to change your mind, but, we do not think you will take it.

And so, formally, without any more ado, Norvalin declares war on Arcadia.

(And by the way, there is a difference between threats, and simple statements of statistics.)

To: Tellium
From: Norvalin

Our nations once had an understanding. Perhaps, that is gone now, but for the sake of our former friendship, we ask you to cut trade connections with Arcadia. There are many other markets for your goods.

To: Khemri
From: Norvalin

Whatever your interests are in the north, far more profitable deals can be made with our nation, than with Arcadia.

To: The Citizens of Arcadia
From: Norvalin

We do not wish to opress you. We are not monsters, and we belive in freedom. But we also belive in duty. We are sure there are many among your number who look northward, and smile. You do not hate us, and we do not hate you. We are being forced into war by the actions of your leaders. Forced. If indeed the war does come, we will make every effort to make sure you stay safe, and when we win, you will become full and equal citizens of Norvalin.

However, you have a chance to avert the war. Presure your governement into accepting our offered treaty. Do so, for the sake of peace.

I have NO intrests in the north, your a bunch of undeveloped nations in my eyes, well at the moment at least.

Well, then, can you promise to not trade with the weaker of two underdeveloped nations next turn? :)

OOC: Darkening, I'm not sure why you're quite as mad as you are. I backed down from what was once a much harsher position, and am willing to negotiate. You seem to be the one that wants the fight, now.

Wtf are you smoking? You demend that I turn over a city that is mine, and you ask what I'm mad about. I'm the warmonger? How many threats did I make to you before this? Oh-no this is entirely on your hands. Your death. See how far statistics get you.

To Tellium
From Arcadia

We apologize as we meant no insult to you. We have recieved multiple threats from this war-monger, and got confused. We would accept trade offerings with those who remember their friends.

To Norvalin
From The Loyal Citizens of Arcadia

You do not seek to oppress us? Ten thousand faithful live in a city that you seek to claim. Take your foolish words elsewhere. The vast majority of Venixians were loyal to our governement, you just seek the foolish minority. We treated you as brothers, and now you treat us as strangers. Venix is the second largest city in Arcadia- it would hurt us not only to give it up economically, but also spiritually. We will not give up our soverignty. May the One curse you for your sinful ways.

You demend that I turn over a city that is mine, and you ask what I'm mad about.

Far cry from utterly destroying you.

But enough of this flame-fest.

Allow Novalin free access to the city of Venix, which means lowering trade and customs barriers, and the peace will remain, and the city will remain yours.

You see, Norvalin relents yet again.

End this, and except the deal.

I have to resend orders Lord Iggy. I need to change some things so delete the orders I sent you.

Edit: Orders Resent. I forgot to include which one is the newer set so If you do not do it was the one that has fewer troops for expansion and part of the defensive orders deleted replaced with militia defense. And of course some other minor things.

I'll simply delete the older ones.

And at the momen, the only full members of the Valin league are Norvalin, Exilsium and New Veritas. Tellium, Verta, and Arcadia are only fringe members.

does anyone know where contempt is? id really like to talk to him

does anyone know where contempt is? id really like to talk to him

On vacation.

When are orders due by?

By any time on Friday, any time zone.

To: Arcadia
From: Norvalin

We gave you a second, revised offer, with a single, very light term, that requires no ceading of territory on your part. However, your silence means that we must assume the wost.

OOC: Battle orders will be sent very shortly.

OOC: I didn't see it- through I've already sent my military orders in.

Far cry from utterly destroying you.

But enough of this flame-fest.

Allow Novalin free access to the city of Venix, which means lowering trade and customs barriers, and the peace will remain, and the city will remain yours.

You see, Norvalin relents yet again.

End this, and except the deal.

To Norvalin
From Arcadia

As long as the deal works both ways, we will accept. But rest assured Venix will remain a part of Arcadia. No matter if you invade, no matter if traitors attempt to rebel, the cit will remain with us. We are glad that you have finally seen the light.

OOC: Iggy is there enough time so I can resend orders?

Kenthrau, I forgot about the lands I purchased. So much to remember in this NES like that road that I was suppose to build and keep forgetting :).

I will build the road and buy the land next turn if that is alright.

what about the iron, did you include that?

@Farow- Yes there is.

Okay, I thought I already had Iron weapons, Kenthrau.


Lord Iggy and Kenthrau, I think I missed something so could you please explain what you both are talking about. I may have forgotten something again...

I'm not talking to Kentharu about anything ATM.

what the hell?

bah anyway, lets stop this semi-spam before turner comes

Orders will be delayed I'm afraid. :(

@Darkining-Okay. City remains yours, but Norvalin have free access to trade and visit there. That's the extent of the deal. Glad to see you agreed.

@Iggy-As I don't have enough time to resend orders, don't do any part of the attack on Arcadia unless they strike first. (If that happens, of course, do the whole thing.)

if the whole norvalin/arcadia thing flares up i'm out of it so you know.

my stats are not on the front page :(

Post 3, Between Norvalin and Skilv'so.

Orum
Cities: Orum, Soran
Leader: King Finz Orum/Luckymoose
Religion: New Eldism (40 000)
Government: Monarchy
Economy: 2- 2/0
Population: 40 000
Army: 2000 Spearmen (3)
Navy: 30 Galleys
Education: 1 (1 Upkeep)
Technology: Iron Age
Confidence: Tolerating
Culture: None
Wonders:
Description: The people of Orum are a tribe of peoples who formed on the cold shorelines under the guidence of The Wind, as folk lore goes. They are a very maritime people, most of their foods and clothing are made from ocean animals. They have recently come into contact with the Citadel, who has advanced them to a civilized people. Orum is now completely New Eldist, and enjoying a mutually profitable relationship with the Citadel.

It wasnt there before. :confused:

Maybe you missed it. I miss orders sometimes and ask people to resend, then find them later.

Yay! Actually being able to post again is nice.

From: New Veritas
To: Norvalin, Arcadia

We're glad to see that you have resolved your differences. However, it seems that the underlying tensions that caused the conflict in the first place still remain. These tensions spring from differences between Pirian Oneism and the Church of the One. The original creation of Pirian Oneism was due to the discovery of "ancient Hypandian" texts, which resulted in a revision of many Davarian Oneist practices under the influence of Saint Pire.

New Veritas and the Church are aiming no criticism towards Pirian Oneism, but merely cite the dissent that nearly brought two nations of Valin ancestry to war. However, we believe that the Hypandian texts should be retranslated into modern Valin, and integrated with the Church teachings that we all hold in common. The ancient texts that all of our nations can bring to the council in Pax can help reunify our religion, and heal the divisions which have caused more difficulty than any pagan or heretic.

partial orders sent!!!

Doh' sent order but forgot to attend Oneist Council thingy :(

Helmfest son of the new Regent Halone stood upon his beast above the crowd of men. Fendrus had recently died, and Falone still held the throne in battle, his father now carried on the legacy. Helmfest was not like his cousin Thranwuir.

He darker skinned, more gallant in armor and revered in his status. Thranwuir dressed like more of the common ranger. A man who rode his ramid alone going on missions and mysteriously disapearing for weeks at times.

A man who hung around bars planning battle strategies and dressed poorly. He was not seen as favorable to be king by his cousin, but they still each held respect for eachother.

Thranwuir's missions were more daring. Never even seen however as strong by his own father by his father.

He Helmfest now commanded the crowd in white armor and the grand tree of Myocaca and the spear of fasra on his shield and chest.

"Men you are called to arms this day to drive back the foul beasts of the north. Long have we been a peaceful nation but now after a hundred years of war we have been hardened. We have seen things and done things no other nation has done to this monster.

We have managed by the grace of our lord stemmed off defeat. He has given us time to remake our downfall. To right the wrong. We will do that this day.

We may have never really had any true hope of winning this war. Perhaps in the begining our great general Araguern doubted it. But he fights because he has hope. Hope to keep fighting. Hope to live. I will not stopp fighting as long as a lengel stands on our shores. I will keep fighting to the red dawn and orange dusk.

I will ride and I will cry the call of Myocaca for the world to hear. I will not be forgotten. I will be remembered, you all will be remembered. The men who lived, who died, who cried, who saw, and who marched for their stand.

There are those who have fallen and bowed down to great powers. But we have not done so. We are the ones who resisted. They can brake our country even our capital may fall but I will not leave my home land.

I will not exodus to a far off region. I will stay and fight. Will you fight with me? Will you stand by me and fight. You farmer, you merchant, you shepherd will you take up the sword and change history, be history.

This is my calling to you to raise the blade and cry to the world, to turn back the wave, to be a bladist."

Fasraaah! Fasrah! Fasraaaah!

However, we believe that the Hypandian texts should be retranslated into modern Valin, and integrated with the Church teachings that we all hold in common. and what would that mean for the 50% of my population which follow Pirian Oneism?

Awesome update! It's so long, I can hardly believe it! :eek: Good to see that Shalamari still exists, albeit not on the map. Not that I don't understand your trying, Ken. ;)

A pity. Courage strengthens my enemies while I was away, and they grow bold beyond their word.

Civil war can flourish in any multi-ethnic nation, Contempt. ;) Not that I'd try that at this point. Plus I'd have to fabricate some very good excuses. :lol:

I was not refering to the civil war. That was expected. I was refering to something...a little different.

I was not refering to the civil war. That was expected. I was refering to something...a little different.

I was thinking it was a response to my post. So I thought you took it as a pity that Shalamari was not assimilated into Gorin.

The delegation of New Veritas intends to cooperate with all other Oneists to create a standard, unified scripture, based on the ancient texts from our nations. We believe that all are true, and should thus be standardized into the Summa, one holy book of worship. This should allow Pirian Oneists and others to rejoin the Church of the One, since in practice our faiths are virtually identical, with minor theological differences that can be resolved at the council.

So in short form: We intend to unify all Oneist faiths.

As of today, Priestess Alaice of Emor has expressed her desire to atone for her sins and reconcile the Path of the One with the Church. While Pirian Oneism is not heretical, we expect the same to shortly occur, with Arcadia's assent.

Actually, I don't think I can keep up participation in this NES at the same level I've had during the school year as I won't have alot of free time (and what time I have will be spent with friends). Thus, I need to quit this NES. It was fun, but I need to focus on school right now. Thanks Iggy for a great game, and for every one I bullied and conquered for providing a fun outlet for my personal issues.

I'll be watching to see what happpens in the wake of the Lengel power vacuum.

Are you serious Contempt? Damn.

Well, it's clear that we need some semi-adequate player to take the Lengels now. It wouldn't be that realistic for them to collapse all at once...would it?

Sorry to hear that Contempt, hope you come back soon.

Well, it's clear that we need some semi-adequate player to take the Lengels now. It wouldn't be that realistic for them to collapse all at once...would it?

With the pressures its about to under go...yes.

Yeah, I'm serious. Senior year is about to kick my ass, and I have a job.

*sigh* Well go for it, RL is more important.

OOC: I can't do that Thlayli unless you're about to give up alot.......

To New Veritas
From Arcadia

Religious distent was not the cause- Norvalin's greed was.

To: Arcadia
From: Norvalin

The almost-war was caused by a variety of reasons, some of them valid, some of them not. But in any case, the peace with your nation shall not be broken from our end. Norvalin will swear to that, and we do not break oaths. Next year, (turn) when we have more time to negotiate, we will work up a comprehesive plan with your nation so that our intrests never conflict again.

To: Lengels
From: Norvalin

As our brothers may well forget, we would like to remind you in your new state (as NPC) that New Veritas wishes to purchase an old Veritasian colony now in your possession.

First PM of Orders sent. Beware Enemies of the Ascendancy, the Black Prince Rises!!!!!!!!

Just noticed Contempt was leaving. Thats sad. you added much to this nes, and i appluade you for that.

Are you by any chance sending one last PM of orders for this turn or no.

ANyway, have a great senior year.

partial orders sent!!!Okay guys, I've said it before and I'll say it again. I want orders IN ONE PIECE! Or at least in two PMs sent within a few minutes of each other.

And don't worry, the Lengels will have a suitably imperial fall, should that come around.

Nice having you around Contempt! It was fun.

Make sure you make it hard for Gorin. Don't want them to think they can totally disregard our NAP for the second time and just get away with it. Oh yes, I knew about Gorin's second little indiscretion. It was fully expected. Maybe you'd like to be honorable for once, huh Ken?

Its not Wubba's fault. We're supposed to Collaborate to drive the Infidels out of our lands, but i was sick today. I slept from 9-5 straight

don't know what you mean contempt. I am honorable

I thought about it some more, and decided I could probably make enough time just for one NES. So I guess I'll try and keep the Lengels alive.

yes!!! *hands contempt some crack* there ya go :)

I thought about it some more, and decided I could probably make enough time just for one NES. So I guess I'll try and keep the Lengels alive.
NOO!!!!!!, I mean YES!!!, I MEAN NO!!!!!!

Darn, i'm so conflicted. :cry: I don't know what i feel.

I was hoping that you'd choose to stay, Contempt.

*crawls back in a small, dark corner to do Canute stats*

Iggy, note. this fits so well into my plans. hmm.. nah, I'll aim for a takeover of the south not the comming update, but the update after it. the emorians will be in full support of the lengals in the south. if they start to lose, don't make it to bad for them.

I am the Lengelzai, the greatest General in the Lengel Empire. But I am not Lengel any more. I am a nomad, yet in my veins runs not only Lengel, but Maugot and Nkondi. I look upon all peoples in my Empire as my people, but they are not Lengels either. The real Lengels, the true Lengels, they fight against my Empire to try and revive the idea of the all-conquering Lengel.

But I am not a Lengel any longer. I am more. Greater. Stronger. I am the greatest General in this Empire. This Empire, which no longer has a name. This nation, which has lost is identity as its foundation uproots itself against the greater whole. A new foundation must be built. And it has already begun.

What my forefather started, I will finish. With his Legend, we will become more than the conquerers and the conquered, we will become a nation.

I am the Lengelzai of Iron Face Empire, and my army will be my blade to defeat unbelievers, and put down rebellious fools.

****

Iron Face Culture

The newly named Iron Face Empire is still mainly nomadic on lower plains of the Lengel region, in Maugot, Nkondi, and the upper Davarian plains, but those leadership positions have taken to wearing Iron masks in respect to Khaidu, the Iron-Willed. Khaidu was the Blighted (Lepersy) Lengelzai that fought the Crystal Ridge Alliance back after their attack, and gained Iron for Lengel use.

The wearing of Masks, and the Legend surrounding the honor and strength it gives to the wear was started by Timur the Lame in homage to Khaidu. Timur while wearing a Golden mask (Khaidu's was obsidian) uterally crushed the Shalamari, and then went on to lead the sucessful invasion of the Bladeist strong-hold.

Power began to be attribuated to Masks, and the Legend made it a sign of power to be honored enough to wear an Iron Mask. This trend is mainly reflected in the army hierarchy, with the highest ranked General wearing a Golden Mask, while the Lengelzai wears Obsidian, although masks are worn by Chiefs of nomadic tribes in the nomadic regions of the Empire.

In the more civilized regions of Davar and Emor, masks are not worn that often except by those who serve the Lengelzai to oversee the far off regions of the Empire. The newly named Empire has created a strange name for itself, but its particular melding of cultures and its legends and cultures, along with the rebellion of those calling themselves true 'Lengels' have caused the Empire to rename itself something suitable for what it is.

The most powerful Empire in the Cradle, an overwhelming culture with an all encompassing religion that has legends and culture based upon masks.

The Iron Face Empire

http://www.jono35.plus.com/Thumbnails/Iron%20Mask.jpg

The Iron Face Empire? Wasn't that the name of one of Amon Savag's nations? ;)

The Iron Face Empire? Wasn't that the name of one of Amon Savag's nations? ;)

A tribute my friend, a tribute.

From The Gorinese Empire
To the Iron Face Empire

The Lord Kaiser Dansu Oborski recognizes your new Empire. May you prosper.

ooc just a formality, not like you need my recognition, but i thought it would be a nice gesture, an apology of sorts, for being such a colossal prick.

To Iron Face Empire
From Emorian City-provencies
All Hail the Might of the Iron Face Empire. their glory and Leadership has brought us prosperity and revenge. Let their reign be long and glorious, and bring us all prosperity.

OOC: You know, you basically posted your future plans a few posts above that story... :p If I was contempt I'll crush you ;)

2 PM's worth of Stories Sent!! *breathing heavily*

OOC: nah, I'm just planing to become a spawn of his empire. I have NO plans to cause a collapse of his empire. Infact, I plan to do everything in my power to make it more powerfull. my only plans is to be in a position to sweep it up if it dose fall, not to cause it to fall. if you get what I mean?

2 PM's worth of Stories Sent!! *breathing heavily*

PMing stories is so ridiculous. I'll show you how it's done in a minute, young grasshopper. ;)

OOC: :eek: Oh no... North King's stories are very long....

To All Oneists Nations
From Guangfei

We're assuming that the Convention is still going to happen?