TerraNES: The Civil Experiment

Jalladin's Caravan rode into the city. The scent of spices filled the air and the sun shone bright over the busy market. Traders filled every spot available and some that should not be available at all. Jalladin's camels thus had to slow to a near halt as they approached the center of the marketplace. Their packs were filled with southern goods. Animal skins available readily in the South, but almost nonexistent in Egypt fetched a good price, making Jalladin one of the richest honest men in Axum. His camel snorted indignantly as it got a face full of smelling herbs from Sana, that were claimed to have religious value. The camel certainly would not agree with that!

At long last Jalladin reached his goal, a large stone structure that was one of the few permanent buildings in this part of the market, Jalladin's Shipping Crate everyone called it, since the building was always stocked with stuff to be moved. After feeding his camels and unloading, he went to the Eastern Market to speak to Ezol, a friend of his.

Ezol traded camels from Lybia, being one of the few who had managed to survive on that risky rout long enough to buy military protection, Ezol had now gotten rich as well. The two of them discussed business over a game of dice.

"Hello, I see the Southern trade is only getting richer Jalladin?"
"Indeed, the trade is richer and so is the region! The locals are building cities of their own now to receive traders like us, no more looking for them in the Jungle!"
"Well, you are lucky, there sure is plenty on that route for everyone, I’m only richer from my own near monopoly!"
"6! I win Ezol"
"Really? 5 to your 1, I win it back. And what is this? 3 to your 2? See!"
"You truly are lucky Ezol, always have been and I see you still are? So how goes the Libyan trade?"
"So you haven’t herd? The Pharaoh of Egypt has conquered some of those bandit holds and the whole place is abuzz! Mujazziz,the weapons dealer, who trades them swords despite the embargos is getting quite rich selling to both sides, bad news for me. About time port authority got him…"
"So your luck can dry up?"
"Nope." Smiled Ezol as he rolled a 4 to his friend’s 3.
"Have you heard of old Zoskales's daughter Sheba?"
"No, what of her?" Replied Ezol as a long streak of victories for him ended with him rolling a 1 to Jalladin's 5.
"She has gotten it into her head to go north of the Egyptian’s red sea port toward Canaan to open trade there! Unheard of!"
"I always said there is a merchant in her, better than many of us I would bet!"
"True." replied Jalladin
"6, I win!"
Ezol took the Egyptian coinage and the two shook hands, each left to their respective houses in the parts of the city not serving as markets. These quite streets were a relief to travel worn Jalladin. He took his large bag of currency, foreign and local and extracted several coins from it. With them he bought Nubian bread form Sofya, the bread merchant and retreated into his spacious home.


Trade map attached.

Terrance888 said:

Anyway, got to Atyria's expansionist policies, after which I will do stats for Aegean.

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Atyria's expansionist policies? hmm, I take it things went better then expected, since I wasn't planing much expansion at all this turn.
eagerly looking looking forward to the update.

Zimbabwe, India, and China (General Olaf, you still there?).

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I am, orders will be in tomorrow.

Terrance888 said:

Heck yes. We have two confusing "Incidents", interlocking orders, domino effects, and looping trade routes. (For some reason merchants in Sarkov will go to New Samnia and then go about face. What? Are they buying slaves? Fish?). Not to mention the clash of two religions, Sarkov becoming the Dual Kingdom of Valyria by vassalizing Samnia and the complicated conflict there, Ex-cons from somewhere (coughcough) escaping onto Sardinia. Then we have migrating Celts ("Shockwaves" from Osismied expansion), Carthage forming, and god knows what.

heck, I can probably run Italy as its own NES.

Anyway, got to Atyria's expansionistic policies, after which I will do stats for Aegean. The Great Politics Messup will be tomorrow, with me taking breaks by doing Zimbabwe, India, and China (General Olaf, you still there?).

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Don't make Carthage! It's WAY too early for it! I intended to make Phoenician city states rise by vassalizing them and getting them to go settle around the sea and make their known colonies...

These years sees significant conflict in every region of the civilized world, as chariots fight camels, arrows strike shields, and strong walls face sieges decades in the making. As civilized states begun clashing in earnest, new technologies form from the inferno of war as governments seek every an any advantage against their opponents.

However, as these civilized nations expand and inevitably meet, there is a great rise of trade in this era. While urban centers continue to draw regions together and agriculture provide the great bulk of economies, money was made invisibly by simply raising the price of goods after moving it across a border. Trade routes since the beginning of civilization grew increasingly crowded as ever more cities clamor for the luxuries of our world.

In Xiong Plains, an army of rats escape northward, driving others from their burrows and running in irrational fear. Dead rats laid everywhere, but the wave of fear continued unabated, for they are escaping the inescapable; the fleas in their fur, and the disease in their blood.



The Vomiting Plague has reached Siberia and the Himalayas.



The Wars of Levean Supremacy ended in a whimper, transformed into an eternal siege of Ortun. While Ortun suffers, both Aramyan and the Hyakkan economies develop. A “Trade of Unique Consequence” developed on the Tigris River, where Aramyan Goods were traded for Hyakkite Resources, Canaanite Copper and even Egyptian Idols. The Parsushites were slowly absorbed, while the warrior clans of Parionis and Numara adopted the newly formed Zargotite Tribes. To the south, the Semitic town of Boukae is growing in power both as a Bastion against Aramyan raids as well as a growing recruiting ground for Semitic warlords.

While the Aramya of the King of Fear was growing ever militaristic, the Aramya of the Scholar King is becoming schizophrenic. For years the nation was easily bent by the will of the Kings, but as the number of cities grew, there is a distinct inertia now present in Aramya. Divided between a military aristocracy and nationalism, priestly dominance of everyday affairs as well as a growing creative middle class based on trade and invention, Aramya’s culture can best be defined as multifaceted at best, and divisive at worst.
Perhaps in future years, a suitable blend of these influences can be found.

Nonetheless, we shall focus on the newest and most dramatic class of this era. While the King of Lust have raised the Priests, and the King of Fear, the Army; The Scholar King has raised the third heartbeat of Aramya, the Merchants, Scholars, Artists and inventors. While the priests built towering Ziggurats and the army built giant barrack-forts, this middle class mostly dwelt near the markets, where they realized their unique power in their society. They made art with the priests while outside the clergy. They outfitted new armies as contractors. They developed a new literary tradition for Aramya, a secular tradition which blended the Aristocracy and the Priesty ideals into a new one. War with Ortun was written on the same level of authenticity as Battles between Gods by contracted writers, and they, working by themselves, crafted the first great classical masterpiece; The Epic of Nir Aram.

“And lo, stood the Exalted above his foe
Above watched Euphrates and Tigris
The crowd cheered, as if they know
The hero’s future rule of bliss”

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Although not funded directly like the other two classes, they grew from increasing reliance on their work by both classes and from the personal support of the Scholar King himself. When he died, he passed a growing private library of his favorite works to his son, rumored to count thousand shelves of clay or more.

As for their economy, it grew after the devastation of the last era. Trade flowed both northward and increasingly eastward to unknown cities. The sedentary Parush States joined Aramya as full members, brining in their own unique cultural influences of the purifying fire into the growing list of gods. Ziggurats were raised, both as temples of the Priests as well as leading the growth of the formerly mentioned markets.

As for the War with Ortun, it became an endless stalemate. The Hyakkites successfully pushed Aramyan forces back from a direct siege, but couldn’t force them out of their siege camps proper. Aramya’s increased and experienced navy was met by large amount of Hyakkite conscripted boats. Even hope of gaining Ortun via subterfuge was destroyed when the Levean conspirators hesitated, were discovered, and had been hung outside of the walls to taunt the now distant army. However, the terror tactics of raids, night attacks and such kept Ortun on the edge, and the Hyakkite Emperor is finding it increasingly hard to justify this effort despite unifying specifically to aid Ortun. All sides lose some confidence in their leaders as the endless siege now reached its sixth decade.

As a final note, we must look at the barbarians surrounding Mesopotamia. The Mitanni north of Hyak are becoming more aggressive with the growth of trade near it, and some are thinking that Hyak should end the war with Aramya (after securing Ortun’s independence) to teach the Mittanittes lesson. The Semitics took a breather in Boukae, a city on the outskirts of the Tigris marshes. Aramya tried to interfere, but after a generation of raids, death, and killing the Semetics simply refused to listen. Instead, they walled their town and accepted more and more migrants, which are used to develop an army to unite the Near-Semitics in a crusade against Aramya. The Parushites have spread further. One of them have merged with the growing Zargotite nomads in the north, acting as a source of metals for the stone-age nomads. Meanwhile, others have migrated up the northern edge of Mesopotamia and found themselves near Hyak.




Although new nations are rising, Egypt is still the main mover and shaker of the region. The line of Warrior Kings expanded their border in all directions; into southern Canaan, securing the Oasis of Lybia, and disrupting the Kings of Nubia. However, the newest Pharaoh, the King Ah-Rais First-of-Wadjet, decided to follow his growing merchant class. The Tribes of Canaan, meanwhile, expanded more peacefully while trying to defend their lands from the Egyptians. As this era ends, the trickle of trade from Mesopotamia is becoming a stream… would it become a flood?

Egypt has one of the best-recorded histories of all the civilized nations, and this granted great confidence and culture to their people. Even a thousand years later, all children knew of the decadence of Raas, of Terefiti’s scheming, of Nahan II’s conquests in Canaan, which his son Nafer II died to protect. Each era greatly affected their neighbors, so we must proceed by discussing them one by one.


Raas spent hundrends of pounds of gold for his decadent rule. His temples expanded Avaris so much that it is on the verge of becoming a city itself, and his lavish spending gave priests enough money for projects for decades to come, when the last of the Anor Ra dynasty focused on war and invasions. Trade became an inevitable part of Egyptian society, and when Terefiti ruled along side of him, she established a Bureau of Merchants to fully tax these elusive moneybags. It was mostly a time of peace, as the army was paid to simply defend raids as they come.

Nahan II, who succeeded Raas, was the first of the kings to realize Canaan’s growing centralization. Markets are built as more and more clans joined the Tribe of Canaan. The mines of Timnia, an often used-source of copper, were prevented from trading with Egypt for fear of their army. Nahan II responded with an invasion. Although he wasn’t contested and the wooden walls he faced didn’t faze him, he found it wasn’t worth the cost of attacking cities only to have civilians by the thousands counterattack. Instead, he skirted the southern edge of the walled towns and conquered Timnia with a dual Chariot-Curragh strike. He fought constant battles against the Canaanites and the Sinaites to preserve the trade routes to Timnia. It was during this time that the “Trade of Consequence” started in Mesopotamia, and the trickle of trade became a stream. Nahan II, while the Canaanites were stunned, broke up the major Lybian tribal confederacies and was the first to note the increasing difficulties in invading Nubia.


Nafer II, who succeeded Nahan II, tried to hold together his father’s conquests. Records show that during his 18 years, he has launched 16 campaigns, stopping only to prepare the smallest pyramid. He focused on resplintering the Lybian tribes, and his attacks on Nubia are becoming increasingly ineffective, both due to the growing unity of their peoples and the merchants shrieking as their trade income plummeted each time. Finally, he decided to break up the Tribe of Canaan the way he broke up the Tribes of Lybia. Launching six campaigns from Timnia and pushing back settlers, he died in the chariot halfway to Jerusalem.

Nafer II has lost many family members of the years, and so married into a family in Damietta under the patron of Wadjet. When he died, King Ah-Rais First-of-Wadjet and his family took over the government in a bloodless coup (the few Anor Ra administraters were given Priesthoods or Pensions) and established the Wadjet Dynasty. Ah-Rais First of Wadjet came from a mercantile family increasingly involved with the Mediterranean and Nile trade. Under his leadership, he hopes to expand the power of Egypt by trade rather than by war.

Economically, this era showed a great increase of the Merchant Class in three directions; Northward from Damietta to the Greek states, Southward from Wasat Thebes to Axum, and Eastward from Avaris up through Canaan to the Mesopotamian peoples. The Patron Gods were decreasing in influence as every little town or village priest declared so and so god as their Patron, developing a vast Polytheistic culture similar, but even less regulated, as that of Aramya. However, all still accepted first Osiris, then Ra, and now Wadjet as the Patron God of all Egypt despite some grumbling. The lavish spending at Avaris shifted the economic balance northward, and for generations hereafter Pharaohs will raid the empty pleasure houses of Raas for gold, secret rooms, and for… other reasons?

The Tribes of Canaan managed to still expand as their control of the trade grew. Although they lost half their army in the fighting, they gained great confidence in their ability to defend their rough hills from chariots. Axum putted around as usual, building a larger army and building their first port.

Aegean​

The Aegean has always relied on trade. A sea filled with shallow islands and surrounded by pockets of plains nestled within mountains, only merchants can allow confederacies like the Illian or oligarchies like Thloryn to form. What’s new is the new markets; Egypt begun trading in earnest, as well as Mesopotamian agents through Canaan or Thebes. While wars are waged in the background, cities grow ever wealthier. But like all people, owning more than your neighbor is always, infinitely more important than just owning things. And all around… people have more.

The war between Sparta’s Peloponnesians and Thloryn looks to end soon. The Thlorynittes first besieged Cornith to lure the majority of the Spartan Army to attempt to drive them away. While the armies skirmished in front of Cornith, the old General of Epurian fame captured the valley south of Sparta, then marched north before the news could reach the Ephors. When the Thloryn army reached Sparta, they found their ploy has succeeded. The city is unwalled, and although most of the city is comprised of barracks, most of these barracks are empty.

They quickly surrounded and captured the city, killing all Spartans who resisted. Then they marched towards Corinth.

The Spartans there have inflicted massive casualties to the Thloryn army, yet only luck saved them when their allies deserted behind them. The King’s Guard slashed their way through the Thloryn battle lines and mad for Pirae. There, they blocked the passes and the few harbors into the town and looked to secure their future.

To the north, a Macedonian warlord launched an attack towards Epirus. When the Spartans heard of this they moved across the channel, managed to dodge Thloryn patrol ships at night, and made a deal with the Macedonian. Together, they conquered Epirus. When Apulia, feeling threatened from Vallarvale, joined, the old King of Sparta died knowing he managed to save the future for his men.

King Pyrrhus of Epirus sought peace with Thloryn, seeking to normalize trade relationships while dealing with the even more complicated politics of the Italian peninsula.

Meanwhile, their victory was marred by a trade war with Troy. Several settlers moved onto Illian land and killed the locals, and both sides called out their navies. Outside of the Gallipoli an Thloryn squadron of three ships were taken by surprise by seven Illian craft. The Illians lost four ships but won the battle, rolled back Thloyrn colonies back from their settlements and secured their hold on the black sea.

Thloryn’s dominance in the rest of the Aegean is uncontested, but they are facing more difficulties in the Ionian shores of Gyrid, where their Ceresite Coins dominate the local economies and are spreading.... As for Gyrid, it is a time of great prosperity, a- “Golden Age” for the future to look back upon. Less reliant on trade than any other Aegean power, they focused on improving their prestige and their domestic economy.

Firstly, they begun the construction of the Lyratele, a massive palace complex inlaid with wagonloads of gold. Built to showoff Gyrid might, as well as host ambassadors and provide as a citadel, it certainly succeeded even when not completed. The relationship with the Illian Conferacy was normalized, and Stone Cutters from all over came to admire the progress of their Lyr chapters.

Libraries were also built during this time, documenting Gyrid’s culture and focusing their scholarly pursuits. Although other countries showcased much culture and sophistication, it was at Gyrid that people wrote studies of other cultures and where new ideas begin to flow. Indeed, it helped standardize the study of their new form of bronze. All states in the Aegean (except Pyrrhus) can now start to learn more about this bronze, and even then, some of their researchers in other nations returned to these libraries to drop off their results and study with local, skilled blacksmiths.

All in all, Lyr is becoming quite a cultural center. The completion of Lyratele and all it stands for will place Lyr in the heart of anything Aegean.

Past the Illians we reach the Wheat-States of the Black Sea. Here, we find the growing Atyrian state expanding their trade. The Illians don’t really care for the young upstart… so far. All the Wheat States and the Aegean States didn’t so much as grumble at the higher taxes. However, it did give Atyria a unique opportunity to expand.

Atyria brings feasts, wealth, and friendship with their merchants, who buy wheat without taxes and then bring it to the Illian merchants later. As their influence is still relatively small, only a few local tribes joined (although the Don Rivermen eagerly joined so that they can trade through Atryia to Troy without the customary toll). However, more importantly is their project, the Codex of Legends. Historian/Diplomats were scattered throughout the Fallen Sea (Black Sea) to collect histories of the area in Atyria. Many legends were discovered, with many repeated of: Tribes fleeing to the sunset wielding shining stones, tribes fleeing to the sunrise on giant dogs, the Flood Itself, the harvesting of wheat by so and so hero.

Then we see the Kingdom of Katan forming among the Koyunlu Hittites. They have not done much yet, but bring a new weapon into the historical record: Axemen. They have a slighty different formula of bronze than Gyrid, but this one at least is perfected enough that allows them to make nice weapons without waiting a few centures.

Finally we meet Rhodes. Now-called Republic of Cyrus. It has been the Main thoroughfare for Mesopotamian Goods while Thloryn dominated Egyptian ware and the Illians, wheat. They are now thriving and have a strong economy.

Thus we now go to the powder keg (umm…. Unguarded gladiator camp?) that is Italy/Valyria.

Italy​

Ahh… Italy. The birthplace of mercenaries, the invention of the Penal (not penile!) Colonies, the Codifier of Cold War Relationships, and the when used in “That’s Valyrian!”, it means overtly complex, stupid, and somehow works (similar to our “Byzantine”).

The Vallarvalians are at the center of it all; Geographically, Literally, Figuratively, Culturally, Economically and Militarily. They can’t help themselves but mettle in the affairs of others! They once more raised up a large army to spend doing apparently pointless tasks which on the long run slowly expands their power.

A very long run.

First, the king Markrov married into the Tatius family of Bellevetum after vassalizing them. Gold was sent to Ctesiphod to end the ongoing war which started before either Sarkov or Ctesiphod became bywords for entire peoples. This peace lead to a boom in the economy, but also a lot of disgruntled people. Some landowners and soldiers wanted to take Samnite land, but now couldn’t with the legal equality of the citizens. Some Samnites wanted complete freedom can continued to fight in small amounts.

Of course, here comes the first rule of Jakobland. love: AP Euro Teacher): When you have a problem, distract everyone by making problems elsewhere. And so there were three main “Campaigns” over the years, each of them causing problems for others, while the Valyrians and Samnites at home tried to work together.
The first adventure is to capture and deport the bandits and warlords who appeared in former Samnia. Tatius helped Alysius capture many Samnies and independent Vallarvalians. Then, they were shipped over to the Slastholim Islands (Corsica and Sardina), where they built the first penal colonies lead by Soldiers. However, while curraghs are few (even after annexing the Samnite fleet), merchant ships are many and they brought many more prisoners than the budding infrastructure can hold or guard. In Corsica we see excons joining Lijuria, while in Sardinia, we see them raping and killing local Sardinians, eventually forcing the establishment of a local Kingdom of Sardinia.

Then the king gave an interesting order to his general: “I will go for central Vallarvale. If it clashes with Ctesiphod, I'll head for Zirilastia.”

So will the army wait for Ctesiphod’s first move? Alysius decided to first reconquer the lost lands, then move forward after seeing the Cytrian reaction. This worked well. When the Regis Cytria conquered (well, help to convince them to "vote" to be annexed) Jesric, the central state, and the Lijurian army marched towards the coastal Phylo, he thought that the two Northern states have divided up the small independent cities. He therefore marched his Army to Phylo.

During the march, his intelligence disappeared, not warning him of the Regis Cytria also marching to Phylo, nor of O’Ragda’s ranger army setting camp outside of the city. Thus, we have the Phylo Incident.

In the Phylo Incident, O’Ragda mistook the Vallarian forces as the Lijurians they were sent to delay. Then the real Lijurians fell upon O’Ragda’s camp while the Regia Cytria took the city. There was a day of confused fighting, after which the Lijurians and Vallarians withdrew. The casualties were mostly diplomatic, as it restarted the tensions of the supposedly “ended” cold war.

From here, we must pause and take a look at the development of the northern States. Liguria mostly expanded on Corsica and capitalized on trade with Toras Noth, through which they reach the Eastern Mediterranean. Ctesiphod, however, goes directly to Epirus and buys there. Unless Liguria can find trading partners in the western Mediterranean, it’s economic importance would be overshadowed.

This is reinforced by completion of Ctesiphod’s new walls. These walls not only defended the city but also protected warehouses and markets, an “insurance” if you will. With these walls and their current dominance of the trade with Greece, the city is the premier economic center of Valyria, and thousands of people migrated there.

Ctesiphod then became a republic, reforming their society. Religion was emphasized as an supporter of values and morals, Slaves were given certain rights, and their leader, now called the Vox Populi, is elected by the great city.

With the rise of Ctesiphod also came the growth of Mediolaun. This northern city relies on trade with Lijuria, it’s large flocks of sheep, and agriculture on the hills of the alps. What made it a city, however, is the increasing use of barges to bring Greek goods up the Rtas into Lijuria, behind Genua.

We go back to see the old Alysius still hoping to win honor for the army. A religious dispute in Jarlsven between Zirilist cults and Ancestor Animists caused a riot when an Animist suggested that Vesuvius is also a mighty spirit, equal to Ziril. After clearing the city of the fighting fanatics, Alysius marched south to end Erias.

Fighting in Italy consists of widespread and small scale actions against Bandits, or large scale “Incidents” of undeclared war.​

Now, before we look at the Erias Incident, we have to look at the development of Toras-Noth. The young civilization is growing and changing. Torasetar III wants to unite all Zirilists to “purify” their beliefs while encouraging his merchants to make more Zirilists across the world. This led to Zirilist congregations to appear throughout the Lijurian trade routes, but especially in Crete and in Genua.

While he was young, he was fiery and aggressive. He demanded that Scanas and Erias bow down to him. Although Scanas did surrender without a fight, Erias feared for its large “heretical” population and refused. After Torasetar finished “purifying” Scanas, he turned his army to Erias. In Terror Attacks similar to those used by Aramya, he easily conquered the towns leading to the heretical city. The city stood stout against his attacks, brought citizens and food into its low walls, and prepared for a fight.

It was when the first Eriat Noblemen begun to fall to the blades of Assassins that the Army of Alysius now appeared. Erias thought it was another Zirilist Army marching from Jarsven in support of Torasetar and surrendered, even though they would be enslaved. When it marched closer, however, the black banner of Vallarvale could be seen.

The fight scared Torasetar III, who settled down after that instead of moving against other “heretics” on the front line. Thousands of slaves tried to flee to the advancing army, who killed them (thinking that they are enemies). Hundreds of survivors tried again to surrender back to Toras Noth forces, to be killed instead. When the Vallarvale Army reached Erias, it set up siege.

Promptly, Alysius was assassinated after writing the fifth chapter of “Religious Conflicts and Conquest”.

The Army stumbled off, killed several pursuing zealots, and conquered Apulia. (This, if you remember, led to the formation of Pyrrhus’ Kingdom.)

The Torasetar declared this a victory worthy of Ziril, and elevated Zirilwine’s importance even further. However, he was frightened by the large army Vallarvale had made, for he knew that it would be hard to match alone. He therefore considered messages from Epirus and Genue with new thoughts. When he died, Toras-Noth, under the gaze of Ziril, sees thousands of pilgrims every year.

The final consideration of this crazy region is the raids on the Berbers of Tunisia. Running out of heretics to purify, heathens were now the preferred slave. They have organized around the walls of Tunis, huddling when the green and scarlet sails of Ziril appears on the horizon.

Thus we have seen the great violence of Valyria, which despite being centered in a few incidents were still evidence of this region’s pugnacious mentality. Vallarvale has finally expanded to the limit of other civilized states, and shares power with their Samnite vassal. Ctesiphod won the war with trade against Genue… for now. While the Zirilists expand their influence ever further while losing ever more centralized control over their followers.

]

India​

For Dakinsa Raj, their days of easy expansion will soon be over. As their researchers furiously test bronze-making methods, hordes of barbarians gather around them. To the South, the Gujarati of the coasts unite to preserve their culture. To the north, the Pastuns and Baluchis made a pact to conquer a seat for a new kingdom, whether the mining town or the bribed seat of their Rajet. To the east, meanwhile, a trading confederacy called Daretoki is discovering, serving a mysterious “Bengali Empire” to the south. Will The Raj survive their new neighbors?
Dakinsa Raj: +1 Domestic income

East Africa​

Zimbabwe and Kuama continue to expand their influence. Zimbabwe faced more attacks from the Savanna people, leading to them starting to build the Great City, which will turn Great Zimbabwe into a fortress and a cultural center. Kuama expanded some more, but now faced a Malawi Confederacy aligned against them. Meanwhile, take is filtering through the rift valley of a distance place of trade, people who buy Ivory by the ton, and dispense gold like water.

Northern Europe​

Osismied continue to expand against their neighbors, crushing all resistance. Some of their rivals are doing the same as well.

from Anorian Egypt

to Canaan:
Wars have been fought for eons. My forefathers built armies to wage wars against your people and conquer cities. Yet I do not seek the way of my fathers. I seek peace and trade with my neighbors who seek the same. Let us draw a eternal border between our two nations forever to come.

to Axum:
Trade has been flowing and riches are growing. Yet your weapon embargo upon our nations is not to my liking. Continue to embargo the greatest state on the world and you will make yourself enemies.

to Nubian City States:
I have seen the error of my fathers. Egypt no longer will wage constant war on Nubia but only on those who wish to harm it. On the contrary, we will support your cities and hope you will join us in building canals over the cataracts of the Nile to help naval trade grow stronger.

to Lybian traders
I wish to assure you. Egypt means no harm to the Libyans as a people. I hope trade will continue to flow while the war to quell the tribal resistance goes on. I invite you to begin a new in Egypt if the war does harm you.

to Libyan chiefs:
Egypt has grown weary of you. The mightiest nation on the Earth will soon come to quell any resistance your people have brought on us. The armies of Egypt are marching, and your demise is near. Surrender and all will be well, fight, and you will only be found in the afterlife. Make your choices quickly, for my generals are at your doors.

to Rhodisian rude diplomats:
Fee? Why would we pay you? You will aid our traders for free. Egypt commands, all are in awe.

Whooo fantastic update! That's Valyrian lul

From Sarkov to Lijuria
We planned to clean up the penal colonies. But since you decided to go behind our back and try to ally with our enemies, we demand two EP as payment for your crass insult or we will march upon your nation.

From Sarkov to Cteshipod
We apologize profusely for what has happened, and rest assured that the people responsible for atrocities shall be dealt with.

Severely.

But what is the price for unity?

From Sarkov to the Kingdom of Sardinia
May we open up our borders and trade with one another?

From Sarkov to the Kingdom of Pyrrhus
We would like to ask you to be incorporated into our kingdom. It is a mutually beneficial agreement; we protect you and you protect us. What is the price for unity.

From Illian Confederacy
Play nice now, and pay your taxes. 1ep.

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To Illian Confederacy
From Atyria
.... what taxes? the only taxes we owe to you are the ones you rightfully and legally place upon our merchant ships that pass through your territory. Our merchants pay them upfront and at the time of their transit. though.. hmm, this line of thought dose bring up line of thought. you may see some cash from us head your way from us, invested in a manner beneficial to both our civilizations.
another way to interpret this is pure extortion by you, in which case, please let us know so we may respond properly.
there is also the possibility this relates something entirely different, in which case, we will go for something different.
In the meantime, we invite expand your merchent traffic towards us, so we may both profit in the upcoming days.


OOC:
okay, expect a UU proposal sometime later today. time to get a bit.. evil.

erez87 said:

from Anorian Egypt
to Nubian City States:
I have seen the error of my fathers. Egypt no longer will wage constant war on Nubia but only on those who wish to harm it. On the contrary, we will support your cities and hope you will join us in building canals over the cataracts of the Nile to help naval trade grow stronger.

to Lybian traders
I wish to assure you. Egypt means no harm to the Libyans as a people. I hope trade will continue to flow while the war to quell the tribal resistance goes on. I invite you to begin a new in Egypt if the war does harm you.

to Libyan chiefs:
Egypt has grown weary of you. The mightiest nation on the Earth will soon come to quell any resistance your people have brought on us. The armies of Egypt are marching, and your demise is near. Surrender and all will be well, fight, and you will only be found in the afterlife. Make your choices quickly, for my generals are at your doors.

to Rhodisian rude diplomats:
Fee? Why would we pay you? You will aid our traders for free. Egypt commands, all are in awe.

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From Nubian City States
Why should we trust you? How would we know such a channel won’t simply get your ships upriver?

From the Nubian State of Meroe (Third of the 4 states)
I like your idea. More trade, and a nile unstained by blood, would be beneficial to all.

From Lybian Traders
The only problem is that our trade is based on the oasis plants and the camels of the desert. No matter how much we want to avoid tribal violence, we need the tribes.

From Lybian Chiefs near the Oasis
There is no reason to fight you. We surrender, but if you reach further into the desert, you will be ground to dust.

From Lybian Chiefs Elsewhere
There is no reason to surrender. We fight, for if you reach further into the desert, you will be ground to dust.

From the Republic of Rhodes
You may wish to do so on your own, and we don’t deny that. However, do you know the customs of Thloryn, Gyrid, or Illians? Do you know the weight of measures, the customs, the small courtesies? For any successful trading venture, you need guides.

Tycho said:

From Sarkov to Lijuria
We planned to clean up the penal colonies. But since you decided to go behind our back and try to ally with our enemies, we demand two EP as payment for your crass insult or we will march upon your nation.

From Sarkov to the Kingdom of Pyrrhus
We would like to ask you to be incorporated into our kingdom. It is a mutually beneficial agreement; we protect you and you protect us. What is the price for unity.

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From Lijuria
Your enemies? Whom?

From the Kingdom of Pyrrhus
We ask that Epirus will be defended the as Sarkov would be against invaders. We ask that Greeks will be seen as equal as any Vallarian or Samnite under the law. If Thloryn still wishes to destroy us, and no one else offers aid, we will join you.

TerrisH said:

To Illian Confederacy
From Atyria
.... what taxes? the only taxes we owe to you are the ones you rightfully and legally place upon our merchant ships that pass through your territory. Our merchants pay them upfront and at the time of their transit. though.. hmm, this line of thought dose bring up line of thought. you may see some cash from us head your way from us, invested in a manner beneficial to both our civilizations.
another way to interpret this is pure extortion by you, in which case, please let us know so we may respond properly.
there is also the possibility this relates something entirely different, in which case, we will go for something different.
In the meantime, we invite expand your merchent traffic towards us, so we may both profit in the upcoming days.

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From Illian Confederacy
You’ve taken some of our trade in the region with your growing merchant fleet. We are simply trying to adjust to that. (OOC: I gave you 1 extra trade EP and then threw this at you). As for Merchants, they are free to do as they will. However, we will establish additional patrols and convoys to protect the growing trade headed towards you from pirates.
As for the "Manner Beneficial to Both of Us", Troy is considering that we establish a bloc and several granaries to try to control the Wheat supply. The large cities of Thloryn, Lyr, Sparta and others can't survive without importing our Wheat; we can raise prices at whim.

From Sarkov to Liguria:
We warn you now. You wish to go behind our backs and try to ally with a third party against us? We will grind you into the ground like so much gravel under the tramp of our soldier's feet. We will clean up the penal colonies, but for your insults against the nation that is Sarkov, we demand two EP for your demands and run around diplomacy with us.

From Sarkov to Pyrrhus:
You have a deal sir. We will protect you with as many troops as we can afford; indeed, we shall ship out five spearmen units to your position as soon as possible to defend your nation since you agreed to be incorporated into the Greater Valyrian Community.

To: Kingdom of Pyrrhus
You will recognize our current holdings, then peace can be made.

ooc: Terrance you should separate the diplo, or bold it, it's a tad hard to read. Nice update nonetheless

Tycho said:

From Sarkov to Liguria:
We warn you now. You wish to go behind our backs and try to ally with a third party against us? We will grind you into the ground like so much gravel under the tramp of our soldier's feet. We will clean up the penal colonies, but for your insults against the nation that is Sarkov, we demand two EP for your demands and run around diplomacy with us.

From Sarkov to Pyrrhus:
You have a deal sir. We will protect you with as many troops as we can afford; indeed, we shall ship out five spearmen units to your position as soon as possible to defend your nation since you agreed to be incorporated into the Greater Valyrian Community.

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From Lijuria to Sarkov
Every word you speak brings more recruits to our cause. We saw what you done at Erias. We saw what you done with the Penal Colonies. We saw what happened at Phylo. Mistakes? Hah! Indecisiveness? Would you accept that label? No, your expansionistic tendencies must end.\

We'll hand over 1 ep, AFTER you cleanup the Penal colonies, and that is for being a good rehab patient.

ZeletDude said:

To: Kingdom of Pyrrhus
You will recognize our current holdings, then peace can be made.

ooc: Terrance you should separate the diplo, or bold it, it's a tad hard to read. Nice update nonetheless

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From Pyrrhus
To Thloryn
CC: Valyria

Then peace is made. We recognize Thloryn's holdings and they ours.

To Kingdom of Valyria
The smell of peace is in the air. Maybe next crisis?

From the Kingdom of Aramya

To Kingdom of Ortun
We are glad to hear you fully understand your position in the region. Peace it is. But don't step out of line friend, our people thirst for either trade or blood, your actions determine which.

To Hyak Empire
Your right, we never wanted to fight you, but now that our people have calmed we can continue our trade. As for Ortun, they are a nuisance in the balance of power, what say we make a secret pact, if Ortun attempts to push either of us back, we work together to keep them down, savvy?

To City-State of Hormun
Absolutely. What will it cost us? (also where the hell are you geographically?)

OOC: Hormun is that state right between you and Dakinsa, heard that you and Southern King are planning some stories.

To Aramya
From the Kingdom of Ortun
Thank you.

From the Hyak Empire
Sounds like a good idea.

From the City-state of Hormun
Ehh... hard to put a price on such things. How does 2ep sound?

From Sarkov to Lijuria
Agreed then, we will clean up the penal colonies.

From Sarkov to Pyrrhus
Peace is in the air indeed! Welcome to the fold.

From Aramya

To the City-State of Hormun
Counter Offer: We will give you 2 EP to be spent enhancing immigration of Aramyans into your land, we will bring specialists of all kinds to grow your economy and our mutual trade.

To Aramya
From the City-State of Hormun

Interesting. If you can help us organize our tribesmen and form a nation with these specialists, then that's a done deal. We get 2ep's worth of specialists and you get the recipe.

Terrance888 said:

From Illian Confederacy
You’ve taken some of our trade in the region with your growing merchant fleet. We are simply trying to adjust to that. (OOC: I gave you 1 extra trade EP and then threw this at you). As for Merchants, they are free to do as they will. However, we will establish additional patrols and convoys to protect the growing trade headed towards you from pirates.
As for the "Manner Beneficial to Both of Us", Troy is considering that we establish a bloc and several granaries to try to control the Wheat supply. The large cities of Thloryn, Lyr, Sparta and others can't survive without importing our Wheat; we can raise prices at whim.

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you appear to have read my mind. establishing firm control over the price of wheat and regulating to the point of maximum profit would be very beneficial. we would be more then willing to help in such an endeavor, and we will try and prusade the other clans to join with us in this effort.

as to the disputed matter of fund, perhaps a compromise? we would more then willing to invest the (ep) into improving the port facilities in both our nations. stone piers, large storehouses for the grain at both ends, and facilities to repair any minor damage that might happen in their voyages. this would greatly improve the flow of goods between us, befitting us both.