ImmacuNES II B- Emperor of the Fading Heavens

***************************************************

Thats the story-award bonus line. Any stories submitted after this post get bonuses for the next update and not this one.​
 
okay- buh bye kentharu

i thought you were into this. but i guess not.

I'm NPCing Killgore this turn. They'll be available next turn for adoption. This turn was bad for losing players. First germanicus, then kentharu... saddies.

(and it should be VCL since its a 5-char limit).
 
I'll be sad to see you go, Kentharu. You were a good counterpoint to the pompous noblese most of us speak in. I fear things will be too polite without you around :p
 
Ancient History
Deep within the darkest vaults of the Library of Amur it is said that there are documents and tapestries which can be dated back to the end of the Last Ice Age on Holy Errovus, with the ancient Scribes of the Amurite Nation claiming to follow in the Legacy of a Mage-King from an Earlier Age, whose name would eventually be taken by the Nation as a whole. This "Kylorin" is given credit by the early Amurites for bringing about the end of the Ice Age itself.
Whether this is true (and it may have a kernal of truth to it, as members of House Klorin are generally more able to call upon the Arcane), the Amurite Kingdom survived through the ages, Waxing and Waneing in power like any other Nation. While much of this early history is lost, it is known that, at some point, an Orc Nation was incorporated into the Nation.

The Soul Wars are the first accuratly Documented evidence of the Amurites on a global scale: A number of battle reports record Amurite Battle-Mages fighting on the side of Light besides the Bannor and Hippus against an enemy so terrible it appears to have been blotted from history. It appears that the Amurite Fire and Dimensional Magics were of supreme Use against the enemies of the Light in the early stages of the war. As magic faded from the world, it appears, though, that Amurite forces, unprepared for this change in the realities of war, were slowly relegated to merely support forces. By the End of the war, the Amurites appeared to be nothing but a backwater compared to the power of the Kuriotates and Bannor.

The Opening of the Jump gate, however, allowed the Muritians, as they had become known, to become relevant on the interplanetary scale again. Of the Many Nations attempting to establish offworld colonies, the Muritians, under the guidance of the Shadowy "Ember" Corporation, which had, for years, been slowly buying up the entirety of the nation, were easily one of the most effective. In Mere Decades, The Muritians, as a Nation, had moved entirly offworld, taking with them many of the most important relics of thier past. Though the Colony of Novamuritia on E2 was quickly very populated, the true core of the house obviously on the Planet of Incellia, where the Administrative apparatus of the Ember Corporation, as well as much of the historical relics of the past of house Klorin, were relocated. The Corporation had holdings on hundreds of worlds.

The Ember Corporation, under the Grand Republic, was one of many prosperous corporations, owning thousands of "laborers." However, with the fall of the Grand Republic, it became apparent that the Corporation needed to rebrand itself, and, Looking into the past, took the Name of House Klorin, remodling themselves into a traditional feudal house (Not so much a difficult task, as the Corporation already owned all of the people in it's fiefs, who experienced very little change.)

Upon the Appearence of the Symbiots, House Klorin suffered as much as any other, until it became apparent that, locked within it's library, was the knowledge required to help push back this horrible threat against the existence of humanity. Klorin Mages, like in the days of the Soul-War, helped push back the Symbiots, Diving along with Tsedeq and Bossheim Mages into the waters of Clark, Casting Huge fires across the Deserts of Arrakis, pushing back the Symbiots across all the worlds controled by the Imperium by the might of Magic.

And, so, when the Trancendentals returned, House Klorin ws given 3 scepters.
Very sleep deprived and odds are (as I didn't bother proofreading at all) History of House Klorin. If it contradicts any of your histories, let me know, and I'll change things.
 
Orders due today. Don't forget.
 
It's 1:20 AM And I just got home, hosting my own mafia game at the .org, I think I can squeeze out orders tomorrow at some time, not tonight, sorry :sad:
 
V2hhdCBpcyB0aGUgcG9pbnQgb2YgZmlnaHRpbmc/IFdlIGhhZCBQYXJhZGlzZSBhbmQgbG9zdCBpdC4gRGVhdGggaG9sZHMgbm8gdGVycm9ycyBhbnltb3JlLiBNYWtlIHVzIHdob2xlIGFnYWluLCB0aGF0IGlzIHRoZSBvbmx5IHdheSB3ZSBjYW4gY29tZSBjbG9zZSB0byBwZXJmZWN0IG5vdy4=

-Found writen on a wall in an abandoned housing unit on Errouvus Secondus. Apparently written in former occupants blood.
 
Hey everyone,

This game looks like fun, so I'm going to take House Illborne. Let's see how this goes...
 



Strange Voices from Remillard

“Je vie toujours. Il n'y a pas de douleur- ça chatouille légèrement. Il ya une pression dans ma tête. Je me sens connectée.

“Bonjour? Est-ce qu'il ya quelqu'un?”

In early February all nobles, guilders and church officials on Incellia, Clarke, Errovus Secondus and Leagueheim bound to a scepter feel the telepathic pull of their scepters as a new voice, one they have never heard before but undoubtedly Remillard speaks though the scepter system.

Afterward there is only silence but there is no doubt that something, something strange, has occurred amongst the Remillard.


Koriate Hold Ball on Incellia

The growing Koriate capital of Incellia sees a massive influx of the who’s who and important faces from across the known worlds in June of 2306 when Ubertino holds a massive party meant not only to have a little fun but also to provide face time and networking opportunities for many of the many houses’ nobles as well as guilder representatives.

The Carnivaliers, Masques, Gourmands and Courtesans are there in force but so too are representatives of many of the guilds representing more pragmatic trades, with almost a hundred representatives of the Reeves in attendance. Outside Leagueheim, it is the single greatest meeting of gnomes in many decades and gnomish members of the Courtesans soon prove a favorite amongst the more decadent members of the nobility.


Not all business- nobles from across the known worlds enjoy exceptional food, theatre, jousting and dance

For the Koriate, ultimately a stream of minor business deals soon coalesce and relations between the guilds and the Koriate have never been better, particularly on Incellia. The Koriate are not the only ones who are using the opportunity to build connections however. Very subtly many of the nobles and guilders, in various states of relaxation, are engaged in various theological conversations, all quite quietly, regarding how Sabelism, though officially a complement to the Orthodoxy and not in opposition, unofficially offers an ‘altnerative’ to the Universal church, a more decentralized alternative, a more laissez-faire alternative.

But if the Sabelists have any illusions regarding keeping their little conversations secret from the church, they are quickly dashed. Many Klorin and other nobles approached are genuine believers in the Orthodoxy and soon enough the preachers of Archbishop Alij Jetnl are warning against the insidious whispers of the ‘lost amongst the Sabelists’, being careful not to label the faith as heretic or unloyal and merely many of its followers ‘confused’. Amongst the Holy Gate there is little who listen to the words of Jetnl’s preachers but amongst the Koriate and Klorin, especially with the call to faith of St. Barbatos himself (see below), there is a sharp divide amongst the nobility with many in support of a Sabelist faith independent from the central church.


Imperium Regent Pardons Evvis; Church Calls Crusade

In a surprising maneuver leaving many wondering whether the post of Imperium regency causes insanity, the Imperium regent, Ludenard Akatas, of house Koriate, in conjunction with Lady Eirenprone of house Quin meet with ambassadors of the Evvis at the Klorin city of Keul on Assimov.

While the elven ambassador keeps the imperial regent waiting almost a week and various nobles and diplomats grow increasingly impatient and anxious, in the streets outside serfs and nobles have gathered to condemn the actions of the new Regency. Normally the Imperial guard would be quick to disperse the rabble but the church seems to be openly protecting them, deploying Patriarchal and Penitent legions to protect their rabble-rousing preachers and demagogues as they heap insult and cries of heresy and devil-worship upon the regent.

None-the-less, the imperium seems decided and when the elven representative arrives, behind closed doors, an agreement is made and a treaty signed.

The Treaty of Keul

The imperium and its noble houses shall henceforth agree not to hunt or harm the elven Houses of Assimov and Oghma known as the ‘Sunset Dahlia, nor any of its vassals.

The imperium and its noble houses shall forgive the elven Houses of Assimov and Oghma known as the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and any of its vassals for past attacks upon the imperium or its members. Similarly, the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals shall forgive the Imperium and its members for past attacks upon its people and materials.

The ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals shall cease all predatory attacks and violent conflict with the Imperium and its noble houses.

The Imperium shall provide direct protection of the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals against aggression by the noble houses of the known worlds as well as the Universal Church of Celestial Light or its subsidies.

The Imperium recognizes the right of the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals to use the jump-gates to travel between the Known Worlds provided the destination planet does not contain symbiot infestation.

Additionally, trade treaties are drawn up between the Quin and the elves, though Lady Eirenprone is obviously uncomfortable, at moments, working so closely with a species that has been maligned and blamed for generations by the church, nobles, and serfs alike for releasing the devil-symbiots upon mankind.

When the Treaty of Keul is signed, the church is not silent and the Patriarch, Saint Barbatos the Undying himself speaks via scepter to all,

From Saint Barbatos the Undying, Patriarch of the Universal Church of Celestial Light, Guardian of Holy Errovus and the Cradle of Mankind, Defender of the Souls of the Known Worlds, First Servant of the Pancreator,
To All,


Many of you are much too young to remember this but know that the Evvis are the ones who in their hubris and APOSTASY nearly did extinguish the flame of civilization that is mankind not once but twice. For generations we have warned of the dangers of the Evvis, have witnessed their attacks upon our ships, and upon our most illustrious nobility. And now that we have finally found them, finally know where to strike so that we might end this threat once and for all, the Regent whom none of us have agreed to follow, whom by the will of the once great but obviously confused House Holy Gate was made our leader, we are to surrender to them, to forgive them all past sins.

I say ‘NAY’. I say impossible. I say… …the regent is an apostate. The regent is a HERETIC! Just as, so too, are the Evvis he would champion. Nobles, guilders, freemen and serfs, soldiers and farmers everywhere, you must not ignore the will of the Pancreator, you must not ignore the sins of the Evvis. The Evvis are the enemies of humanity and just as they have attempted to extinguish our civilization twice already, if we let them, they will try a third time… we must not allow them the chance.

No, do not forgive them their sins, for only the Pancreator can forgive a sin as grave as theirs. No, instead, I call upon you to take up the symbol of the Church and to join me in HOLY CRUSADE against the Evvis.

I command it. Nay, The Pancreator Doth Command It!

The call goes out amongst all fiefdoms on all planets, the call to champion the crusade of St. Barbatos the undying.


Many a minor noble embroiders the symbol of the Crusade upon their cloak or armor, a sign of their dedication to serve the Church and wage holy Crusade

The first to heed the call are many of the minor vassal nobility of house Naprous who upon reading the treaty and finding no mention of their own Ragel of House Naprous but finding plenty of evidence that their pain will be ignored and their vengeance frustrated, are quick to sew on the Crusader’s emblem.

While the Koriate nobility of Incellia stands by its dynastic house and awaits their decision, many of the vassals nobles of this house on Arrakis are only too ready to pledge themselves to the Crusade, hoping perhaps to save themselves from the interdict they surely feel may soon befall their great house.

The vassal nobility of House Holy Gate, never thoroughly centralized but always exceedingly religious would not be far behind but their recent efforts to offer an ‘alternative’ to the centralized church has confused many and so while many do sew on the emblem of the crusade, many others await the Archbishop’s words. Others with a sizeable population of minor nobility pledging themselves to the crusade include the minor nobility of the Hyppean on E2, the Tsedeq on Clarke (surprisingly perhaps), the Sanctious’Als (especially on E2 but also on Arrakis), the Illbourne, and even members of the Imperium Fleet, and especially Garrison. Amongst the imperium regency there has been extensive anxiety and worry and backroom diplomacy suggests that many are eager for new elections and the rise of a new Regent that won’t make them choose between their oaths to their regent and their oaths to the Pancreator. Indeed the divided loyalties of the regency staff have already been felt in the Regency purse as absenteeism rates skyrocket and workplace productivity plummets.

Over Assimov, as the Imperium Fleet the Nobility of Man speeds to Stigmata, the Church fleet consisting of a Celestial Light Cassiel-class cruiser and an Equipose Dagda-class carrier and its complement of Seraphi-class aerospace fighter all under the command of the Kalinthi Bishop, Yieslin Venyr, Arch-Bishop of all Assimov takes up position over the elven homelands, awaiting only the signal from their Patriarch.

By radio and other means, the higher nobility of Quin, already much divided, hear tales of Kalinthi church “inquisitors” stealthily roaming the elven forests, slaying the apostates where they find them. While on more formal diplomatic channels, the elves demand the imperium and its members respect the treaty that the regent has so recently signed and come to their aid, crusade or no crusade.


Quin Open Trade with Elves of Assimov

In the wake of negotiations between the Imperium regent and the elven ambassador, Lady Eirenprone who also attends the meeting, negotiates the early stages of a trade contract between her house and the elves and manages to secure open port for her merchant marine at an elven harbor.

A pair of ships are dispatched with the finest of goods from throughout the known worlds and from House Quin holdings in particular but the ships never arrive. From what can be made out from radio traffic and messages sent by desperate signal operators, along the way there was much grumbling from the crews of both ship about the danger to the souls of the crew if they were to actually land at the elven continent and trade with the much-hated race. Their suspicions and anxiety spread to the officers of one of the two ships and finally those officers in conjunction with the crews of both managed to take control of both ships through violent mutiny. The ships have set a new course and have not been seen since.

Since that time Lady Eirenprone has had to reconsider the vehemence with which her merchant marine has reacted to her attempt to negotiate with the elves. In churches across the land the Orthodoxy has stepped up its preaching against ‘abetting the children of the devil’ and there have been violent demonstrations across many dockyards (that the vassal nobility have been suspiciously slow to crack down upon) that threaten the economic prosperity of the dynastic house’s trade both with foreign houses, the imperium and the church but also amongst its coastal towns and villages. The unhappiness of the people has been felt in the purse of the nobility.


Dante Labis Commands Assault on Independent Nobles

While many Koriate nobles busy themselves with song and dance, the Koriate military is busy sending reconnaissance into the mountains south-west of its Incellia fiefdom. Here their static-class commandoes quickly identify weak local radio signals and the thermal signatures of small urban centers. Fly-overs with the stealthy winter-class helicopter gunships reveal a number of small timber and fishing estates along the western coast of the continent.

The Koriate quickly begin developing a series of mountain army and airforce bases to better project the force into the area and to secure their supply lines. Finally, in September, when Dante Labis returns from Stigmata, they finally approach the independent nobles, whom they learn are descendent of the House of the Scarlet Hand (who had in ancient times made war on the Holy Gate and lost) and demand their surrender.


An Independent Noble’s Fishing Estate on the Western Coast of the ‘Thana Mountains’

The nobles of the Scarlet Hand, not keen to bow to anyone, and not knowing the strength of the approaching forces, ultimately refuse and send the Koriate ambassador packing (literally- they kill him then pack him in a box and send him back). Foreseeably, the Koriate move in, depending extensively on an off-shore based airforce and their stealthly glass and static-class commandoes. The Scarlet Hand are not without defenses of their own however and have several battalions of what amounts to infantry II to call upon. Additionally they know the terrain and specialist ‘ranger-like’ irregulars soon begin laying traps in the cold forested mountains.

On November 4th, 2306, a young and dedicated Scarlet Hand noble and his company of elite commandoes even manages to break into Dante Labis’s forward command center high in the mountains and kill that renown Koriate noble with a simple pistol. Some say it is the will of the Pancreator, divine consequence for the actions of the regent, others dumb luck, and still a few, the bravery and dedication of the Scarlet Hand nobles, their last chapter before extinction. Retaliation is gruesome, with the winter-class helicopters leading the way and on November 15th, the Scarlet Hand nobles, those that remain anyway, are forced into vassal servitude to the military might of the Koriate house.


Guerrilla War Rages on Amongst the Irradiated Farmlands of the Former Authority Fiefdom

Cardinal Leonid Mirmah, High Protector of the Church and once arch-bishop of Clarke, continues to be embroiled in an asymmetric war with the remnants of Duscha Sehryi’s guerillas in the southern swamps of the south-west E2 continent. While his forces can control the central farmlands and urban ruins, their efforts to penetrate in the swamps are often hampered by the ease with which the guerillas can navigate the rivers and outer shore.

And so it comes with some sense of relief perhaps when the Church’s High Protector agrees to a deal with Guiss Texier and his house, who in turn come to an agreement with House Naprous, all reslting in the Texier House, in command of both their own destroyers and Naprous cruisers and their capital ship, a battleship, sailing over the horizon to assist. These, together, effectively cut off the guerillas mobility along the shores, especially when guerrilla small water craft begin striking at submerged naval mines.

As a result, Mirmah’s Patriarchal Legions are able to make significant headway against the rebel guerillas, especially when the Texier forces begin systematic bombardment of the outer swamps and effectively reduce the area the guerillas can ‘fall-back and regroup’ into. This progresses well for several months and the guerillas make little head-way against the church or Texier forces. But at the same time, neither the Church nor the Texier are able to corner the guerilla leadership effectively who seem more than content to simply avoid the enemy and seemingly ‘wait out’ the raids. Perhaps they are waiting for something.

Certainly there waiting seems to pay off because June sees a sudden change in the caliber and quality of forces arrayed by the guerillas loyal to Duscha Sehryi. The change is first felt by a sudden difficulty amongst both Mirmah and Guiss Texier’s forces to communicate with forward positions. Sensors fail, fighter-equipped cameras and radar are suddenly jammed and almost overnight the electromagnetic field, which was taken for granted as being available for communication and the basis for many early-warning systems went dark. Within days of the sensor and com failures the raids no longer consist only of rangers and irregulars but also include heavily modified monstrosities similar to the ‘grafted’ kept in reserve by house Klorin only that they are armed with much heavier equipment specifically meant to penetrate the heavy armor of the Patriarchal legions. These, operating in conjunction with well-coordinated sensor black-outs, are able to deliver much heavier attacks upon the in-land forces of the Church and even strike at the more distant colony of the nascent Texier fiefdom.

Cardinal Mirmah’s reports that much of the forward planetary aerospaceport they had been building to launch their Seraphi class fighters has been destroyed by a particular daring raid dependent on the use of ancient supply tunnels used during the authority days to circumvent the perimeter guards and launch an assault directly at the Patriarchal forces’ planetary logistics and command centers. As a result Cardinal Mirmah has withdrawn his central command back to geo-synchronous orbit but with the increased black-out of sensors aimed planet-ward, the Patriarchal forces, despite their much greater firepower, are finding themselves increasingly operating blind.

In response, in August, as the rain falls in torrential sheets, Mirmah orders commencement of “Operation Vanguard” meant to secure much of the southern and western swamps by encirclement at the strategic level so that guerilla fighters can be forced from their hidden positions and their souls brought to the light. At first the operation meets with little resistance and though the heavily encumbered Patriarchal Mark II legions and more mundane Infantry IV suffer from a lack of small water craft, they make descent headway into the brackish swamp, the flameguns of the heavy infantry clearing the brush nicely. But Mark II legions are meant to operate with heavy sensor and communications support and very quickly those are rendered inoperable and the forward infantry find themselves isolated and effectively blind as once again the electromagnetic spectrum is jammed by unknown sources. In a series of short skirmishes the infantry of “Operation Vanguard” is cut into pieces by the heavy weapons of guerilla forces wearing protective and strength and reflex-enhancing armor and the appearance of a weapon that the nobility was only beginning to develop and then only at advanced Remilard facilities: levitating heavy armor.


Duscha Sehryi’s guerilla fighters reveal hidden capabilities

These forces are able to separate the infantry of the church from one another, operating in a manner that suggests that although the Church may not be able to use comlinks, they certainly are, finally bringing their heavy weapons to bear upon the Patriarchal Legions.

Not all is lost for the church however and Serpahi fighters scrambled in response to the ECM are able to visually identify the ‘hover-tanks’ as they zip amongst the waterways and small rivers and bring considerable fire-power to bear. Additionally, while the battles tend to take place somewhat inland and out range of most Texier naval forces, especially when one considers their own well-founded fear of their mine fields, their heavier guns are able to provide some support though these too are much reduced due to the effect of the guerilla’s electronic counter measures. And so through the use of Seraphi aerospace fighters and offshore bombardment, complete annihilation is turned into a mere humiliating rout.

Finally Mirmah recalls his forces, as best he can, and over the course of the next few months focuses on much smaller operations that secure the border and patrol the inland agricultural fiefdoms. There is some talk amongst the Curia of a new round of orbital bombardment.

Despite the difficulties amongst the swamp, colonists of Ednymion Texier report that they have successfully reclaimed land from the weeds and growth that had overtaken them in the last years of neglect and conflict and have already planted several varieties of wheat, corn and rice.
 
Top Bottom