Terrance888
Discord Reigns
As we look from the last era we see that, indeed, trade is becoming ever more important. Look at Mesopotamia! Look at Egypt! Best of all; Look at Valyria (At least, Valyria before the Incidents). Militant nations are tamed by the subtle power of economic leverage. As they jump hurtles towards this new goal, however, many old-time dominators of trade refuse to step aside.
As Trade expands economies, omens grow darker. Shamans, Priests and Druids talk of choking green miasma from the east. Nations of India, Mesopotamia and the Aegean felt a strange fear every night as their priests look for the tell-tale green flash the sun supposedly makes at sunset. However, as this era ends an Atyrian merchant brings news from the Don Rivermen. His barges of wheat were replaced by dead rats crawling with fleas, and he vomited before brining the news of death, and then fell off the docks, himself dead.
Even as the Green Death was weakened in China, it arrives at Europe.
China
(2825-2750)
(2825-2750)
The Emesis Plague spread quickly among the Chinese even as the Xila develop countermeasures. As the first wave ends, the survivors (Including the Young Khan) pledged themselves to the Silent Emperor in exchange for the said of his doctors. Elsewhere, the plague galvanized the Man people who formed the Huai Kingdom to the south and expedited the formation of city-states and of migrating agricultural villagers near the Xilaroi Borders. As Xilaroi struggles to restore its government over its new citizens, new challenges and opportunities appear on every horizon.
An Excerpt from the Book of the Plague:
In the first years of the Plague the Silent Emperor established a council of experts in all fields; Astrologers, Gut-Readers, as well as more scientific Doctors and Naturalists. He brought in dukes and nobles, mayors and chieftains, and even the Young Khan himself. There, they cut themselves off from the world and managed the plague. All animals: Rats, Ravens, Cats, Dogs were slaughtered. Food and information was brought in through a small trap door and exchanged for new orders.
The Third Year of the plague saw safehouses of this type built throughout Xilaroi, often simply the Governor’s mansion with an added layer of dub to cover any existing cracks. Of these safe houses there are two types, Quarantine Rooms where most died and Medical Rooms where doctors retreated after curing what they can, where they can. Masks were first used against the smell of the vomit, and later to prevent the splash of fluid contaminating the hard-to-replace experts.
The Sixth year of the plague saw both the extension of Safehouses into Zhangate, Han and Xiong lands as well as the first Book of the Plague, written to designate early signs of the deadly disease and what “cures” with better than usual success were found. Another excerpt from the Book of the Plague.
By the ninth year, the First Plague ended with the death of a Third of the Xilaroi, and nearly half of other people. Whether their lower death toll is due to their doctors, heavy spending, or their culture is unknown.
The Green Death, or the Emesis Plague, would return every generation thereafter.
With the end of the Plague the Xila Silent Emperor has the loyalty of all the Yellow River. He saved their lives (so he has them to believe) and was given their love. The Northern Plains, once teeming with nomadic tribes, are emptied of men and horses by both the plague and the Xiong. The Xiong Khan became one of the Silent Emperor’s generals as lord of the Chariots, and as the nation slowly recovers they have an entire new land to colonize.
To the south, the Plague unified the Man Tribes of the Huai river. They impaled their sick and their vermin, and burned them at the stake; then “helped” their neighbors “get healthy” again by cleansing the land. Well… somehow it worked and the Huai Kingdom is now rising in the south.
As Settlers slowly move back into the depopulated towns, Xilaroi’s main problem is to get more people to tax. Sure, the Man are organizing. Sure, there are a bunch of land to colonize (if they have enough people to send.) But the two stables of life: Tax and Death, shouldn’t cancel each other out, should they? Meanwhile, the Man people have recovered quite well, spreading out against less fortunate peoples while organizing in their homeland. Will Xilaroi be able to regrow its population in time to face their new southern nemesis?
Spoiler :
India
Even as Dakinsa Raj expands, its borders are being pushed ever harder by barbarians. The Pashtuns and Baluchis managed to burn both their targets to the ground. Their Gujarati Macemen fought among themselves, avoiding the conquest of their holy city. Finally, despite their conquest of the last Dravidian towns to the north, the thousands of refugees over the years formed a new Warlord City vowing revenge against the expansionistic Raj. While trade with Daretoki proved fruitful, it only revealed a failing Patnim Empire, ripped apart by its strong governmers. As the victorious tribesmen die enmass due to the plague, hard times come to India.
Dakinsa Raj increased the ability of their Gujarati Macemen, implementing a rudimentary discipline system. Unfortunately, this also increased their price. When they launched their attacks, most of their armies are understaffed and undermanned, and although they achieved their objectives in the north, they couldn’t chase the escaping armies of the defeated Rajas. When the Raj sent his macement to conquer their Religious home, they twiddled their thumbs, sat on their hands, and eventually mutinied. When he finally brought order back, he found that the Macemen took their discipline training back to their homeland resisting his attack. While the Raj focuses so much on his conquests, he neglected to defend himself. He lost two of his mining cities to the tribespeople, and this can be seen clearly in the lower output of bronze during this time.
When the Tribespeople celebrated by toasting marshmallows over the flames of civilization, one of them threw up. Within days the entire nomadic army was sick. As they streamed across the border in search for a cure, the Plague followed them.
(India: High Priced Gujarati Macemen training+loses. No domestic increase or decreases +1 trade with Daretoki)
Mesopotamia
Trade dominates politics on Mesopotamia. We can see this best with a look at a council meeting in Ortun.New nations, new peoples, new resources: Oh my!
Mesopotamia BLOWS YOUR MIND!
We’ll start with King Oriz and his kingdom. The Kingdom of Ortun is important, but often ignored. After the Great Stalemate ended, trade flowed at full fury but few merchants buy and sell at their eponymous capital, and it is usually only noticed for their “annoying taxes” a merchant has to pay going between the Hyakia and Levea. Recently, they started a program of collecting detailed information of merchants going through their ports and kept it in the Library of Ortun, where analysts attempt to predict the markets, speculate on the future, buy low sell high, and all that Jazz. Needless to say, they managed to take control of their future as middlemen and kept their significance in Mesopotamia despite their lack of land or expansion.
(Ortun: +1 Trade +1 Domestic +1 Confidence (+Trade +Peace))
We then arrive at Aramya, where we see a bustling kingdom. Or Dual Kingdom, as I should say. The Grand House of Nir Aram was divided into the House of Kartur (Silence) and the House of Durnakur (Hard Nose), the two brothers of the Dual Monarchy. In each generation, the two houses live together at various palaces across Aramya, only divided when a King choose an successor. In the Dual Monarchy they choose a successor in the opposite family, leading to a vibrant and fair leadership during these years. So far, the sons of the Hard Nosed King are still called Hard Nose, and that of the Timid King still called Timid, more out of affection than anything as they planned the future of Aramya together.
One of the most important political trend is how the Dual Monarchy looks eastward, away from Ortun, the Zatruns, and the Boukae. It was the east that the first planned Aramyan city of Anshan was founded to capitalize on many copper and tin mines nearby. It was, too, the east that expansionistic Aramyans turned to city state of Hormun. Thousands of migrants arrived, each of them giving the flabbergasted Port Guard five golden coins. All together, this matched the King’s ransom needed for the “Formula” which was duly sent to Aramya. Hormun quickly centralized under the command of these specialists, and became an Aramyan-dominated state.
Meanwhile, while normal diplomatic relations and trade was reestablished with Ortun and Hyak, Aramya begun once again to court the barbarians. The conservative Parushites preferred the entreaties of Ortun over that of Aramya, and the Zagotites killed most of the missionaries of Kitabalism for being “Too confusing, brain hurts”. For the latter, the Parushite tent-town of Zatrun provides an intermediary between Zagotite resources and Aramyan inventions. As for Boukae, they rejected all Aramyan trade in the first place, and even advanced a little into the Swamps, taking unopened land and redirecting a tributary of the Tigris into the scrublands for farming. This led to increased organization of the now growing city. These missionaries at the forefront of Aramyan culture everywhere also penetrated into Hyak and Ortun, succeeding in converting both of them into Kitabalism. (although since Kitabalism doesn’t have a strong Hierarchy, this doesn’t necessarily place it’s worshipers under Aramyan priests)
An Report from the Ziggurat at Kitalo
In this era the Scholar King’s ideals are carried to greater extents. Literacy was expanded by new schools, so that even the middle class can read, write, and calculate without relying on a temple scribe. After the bronze formula arrived in Aramya, the kings turned it over to the Artisans to compete until they find the best way to utilize that formula. This was followed by a fury of activity which have greatly increased their understanding of the formula, but didn’t get them to a practical solution to it’s complex manufacturing process.
Finally, they developed the Ox Chariot, perhaps inspired by the Egyptian Chariots put to good use centuries earlier. The Ox Chariot used a single (and easier to control) Ox to pull the chariot, allow for easier implementation compared to Egyptian Chariots but also slightly lesser speed.
All in all, Aramya continues to develop organically in southern Mesopotamia while Hyaks in the north struggle with the Surins and the Damascans.
(Aramya +2 Trade Economy, +1 Domestic economy, Confidence and Culture increases (not by points), Gain some control over Hormun)
The Hyakkite Empire declared peace with Aramya with a look towards expansion against the troublesome Surins. After a few general offensives, the generals advised Emperor Zargash to follow the trade boats up the Tigris. Launching a concentrated attack, they easily captured a large city and were moving to the next when a new force met their troops. A sharp battle was fought which they won, but the hill-people behind their lines revolted and joined the new nation.
This nation is the Republic of Damascus, and it controlled the trade routes between Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean. Further battles were fought until a cease-fire was declared, allowing the Hyakkites to chase after increasingly organized Surin raids under the leadership of Mosul.
On the other side of the Republic, we see the Phoenician city states… but we are getting ahead of ourselves. First, we must speak of Egypt.
(+ Republic of Damascus
Hyakkite Empire: -1 Warrior (2), +2 Trade +2 Domestic)
The Nile and the Levant
As we follow the Egyptian King’s List, we reach the “Merchant Dynasty” which has brought Lower Egypt into new heights of trade and urbanization. From King Ah-Rais First-of-Wadjet to King Remosus II Blessed-by-Osiris each personality guided Egypt with sheer will to the future. Also notable is the increasing importance of Axum among the Kushians and Ethiopians of the highlands, the rise of the Phoenician city-states, and the invasion of Lybia.
King Ah-Rais led a dichromate reign. On one hand he declared peace to neighbors and opened his borders to Nubians, Canaanites, Sinaites and Axumites, but on the other hand he decided to finish off the “Lybian Problem” personally with a deep strike. Using maps of Oasii from the campaigns of the Ra’s, he cut hostile tribes down to size, enfranchised friendly ones, and managed to annex the Lybian city of Farez. Trade expands greatly and this urged the invasions of Hyak in Mesopotamia.
The next King, that of Nahan III Keeper-of-Tradition, was more quiet and traditional. He funded the temples and continued the trade. However, it was his Queen Terefti II, Scholar-of-Horus, who took credit for the Red Sea Fleet started under his rule. Queen Terefti also enlarged the Nile fleet and spread her ships around the world, mapping the locations of Utica, of Crete and the Aegea, of the great war of Valyria, and opportunities across the Mediterranean. Although there were some incidents due to various customs not well known, the fleet shows Egypt’s potential across the great inland sea.
Excerpt from a Temple Engraving of the Voyages
Remosus Image-of-Ra used this new fleet to help supply his army in Lybia, brining them to Farez and striking deep into the desert. The final hostile tribes surrendered or fled to less-fertile oasii to the south and west with heavy casualties. He would need to continuously garrison the Oasii, for in the desert a small rebellion can easily wrest the entire province from Egyptian hands. Eventually, he died due to an old chariot would.
Our last king is Remosus II, Blessed-by-Osirus who rebuilt the lost trade, secured all their borders, and supported the Phoenician city state in the central Levant. Playing the “Great Game” along with Damascus and Cyrus, he secured for Egypt the city of Byblos as a consistently friendly port of call in the political turmoil of the Middle East.
The trade to the south sparked the growth of the Nubian states of Abu-Simel and Tos-Getha. Tos-Getha is more Egyptian oriented and to the north, composed of the ancient cities which once tormented Aswan and now trades with the Egyptian fortress instead. Abu-Simel controls more of the agricultural lands, as well as the mines of the Eastern Desert.
Even further south we see an alliance between Axum and Kartoros. They pledged to build a series of safe-houses for merchants between their cities. The Project is almost done and would give Kartoros great clout among the Kushites and Axum the same among the Ethiopians. Already trade is increasing both along the Nile and the Red Sea, and Axum is excellently placed to take advantage of Queen Terefiti’s curiosity of the origin of the spices they import.
Spoiler :
Aegean
The Aegean is a time of peace for all nations. Thloryn and Troy sees trade growing ever more important, can capitalize while Gyrid, satisfied in their golden age, completes their Lyratele and becomes the premier cultural center of this region. Meanwhile, on the edges of civilization, Atyria has assimilated all the tribes of her peninsula except for one small, defiant tribe. Finally, for Katan it is a time of ruthless expansion and of unification. Trade has been the name of the game for centuries before, but would it be so after the plague?
For Gyrid, their peace stretches on without stagnating, leading them to greater cultural heights. Along with the Lyratele dozens of smaller palaces and temples were built throughout the nation. Internal trade unifies the nation as their conquered currency binds together their people. Will this golden age make them soft, or can they rouse themselves in time for the Green Death?
As Troy and Thloryn stared each other down, trade boomed, if only diminished by the massive amounts already flowing through their ports. Thloryn took it and expanded their army ever larger and started on their Temple to Athenai and other gods. Built of the finest marble it will shine brightly over the harbor bellow. Troy, instead, started building massive granaries and treasurehouses, to store Wheat for sale and for extortion. By regulating the sale and price of wheat, they can ensure a constant supply for the growing Aegean cities without fearing for the seasons. They also conquered a wheat state which went back on their taxes, managing it as a colony of the confederation.
For Atyria, it is a time of growth as the finished their Codex, and many small tribes and villages across their peninsular home joined them. To guard their growing realm they developed the Hounds of Atyria, who use swords and trained dogs to help them defend their borders. As sale of wheat increase, so does their trade… until an especially macabre barge appeared in their harbor.
Finally, at Koyunlu it is a time of conquest for Katan. Sending their Solarians into glorious battle their battleaxes rended shields, smashed formations and generally had fun. When the Cypriots conquered one of Koyunlu’s port cities, the new King “Protected” the other by sending his army in full and taking it over. They have a bright future ahead of them, if they withstand the plague.
From the Aegean we turn to Pyrrhus III of Epirus, and therefore to the Valyrian politics and conflicts of that region.
Spoiler :
Italy
In Italy, fierce fighting was the name of the game. However, not all combat was done by the blade. There are the Assassins of Ziril, ending generals with a swift knife. There are Rebellions of Samnites and Zirilists, Counter Rebellions of Vallarvalians and Faithful, and Counter Counter Rebellions of Grey Faithful and Warlords. We can see foreign interventions, civil wars, confused kings, massacred armies and revolting nobles. With so many perishing from the Red Death, are there any victims left for the Green?Ziril, bless us, and have mercy on our souls.
-A Toras merchant.
Nope, you made me work too much. DIE HAHAHAHA!
-Me
Once again, we must view the peninsula using incidental devices. At Epirus the King made promises to the three premier neighbors: Valyria, Ctesiphod and Thloryn. Incidentally (of course
), King Pyrrhus (the first) sent the Formula to Ctesiphod, and was strucken by wonder when the Vox Populi sent two large chests of gold to his court. Then problems start to occur. Rasade refused Valyrian citizenship and declared independence in favor of Ctesiphod (?). Then, Valyrian warriors started raiding Epurian lands on ships, showing strange proficieny on the waves (??). Finally, Thloryn beckoned them to join the Greek power instead of the Italians, using the other incidents as evidence despite their bad blood (???). Needless to say, King Pyrrhus II killed himself, leading to his nephew to become King Pyrrhus III, a lover of war and of Ctesiphod.The second incident is the Cleansing of the Penal Colonies. Lijuria actively ejected the warlords from Korsi, sending them on boats to Elba, then established their own Penal Colony there. Sardinia pushed slower, convincing many to accept a strange deal; move to Elba and wait for further orders, and you will receive your former lands. On Elba they organized their army of 2 Warriors and waited for further orders.
The declaration of war against Valyria came soon after. From Elba the Lijurians raided the coast and defeated one Curragh of a settlement party and sinking its load of spearmen. From Rasade and Erias, troops marched forth. Now, an intermission as we review the numbers of these armies and the initial Valyrian garrisons, who readied themselves after Duke Hadrian Tatius warned him of the imminent attack.
At Elba, there are 2 Thousand Convict warriors, 2 Lijurian Archers, 4 Lijurian Spearmen, and 15 Ships
At Rasade there are 1 Militia and 1 Spearmen raiding force. As well as 5 Zirilist Curraghs
At Erias there are 2 Archers 6 Spearmen, 3 Zirilist Militia, 1 Samnite Militia, as well as 7 Zirilist Curraghs
At Sarkov, 10 Spearman (1.5), 3 Archers (1.5), 1 Royal Guardsmen (2)
At Arlsfen/Jarlsven 1 Royal Guardsmen, 2 Spearmen, 1 Warrior (2), 1 Loyal Militia 1 Zirilist Militia
The First Phase
The Raiding from Elba caused damage to the Valyrian economy, but they never got a chance to sack a major city due to the massive army at Sarkov and the roads built there.
The Rasadian warparty recruited many from the conquered Apulian town, but couldn’t overcome the local garrison of 2 Militia from Kora-Torr.
At Arlsfen the Zirilist Forces, under the shadow of mount Vesuvius, laid a crushing defeat upon the Royalists, destroying the local militia and the experienced warrior. The Royalists gave as good as they got their their Royal Guardsmen, who took out the local rebel Zirilists and badly damaged several spearmen before being forced to retreat.
The First Phase we see the Zirilists manage to breakthrough in the south with heavy casualties. However, the allies were still stemmed at all fronts and with the Samnite Army centered at Sarkov, Hadrian refused this chance to join them despite many locals doing so.
The Second Phase.
The Second Phase sees the armies taking advantage of the gap in Valyrain defenses, while local governers try to gather the scattered armies and slow down the spreading Samnite revolt.Apulia was reunited with Zirilists attacking the rearguard. The Militia were forced to retreat.
King Sarklov III, secure in the north, sends an Army of his Surviving Royal Guard and 2 Spearmen reinforced by 2 more spearmen and an archer. He left 1 Royal Guardsmen, 8 Spearmen and 2 Archers at Sarkov against the Corsair raids.
The Third Phase
Zirilist Army pushed back.
Vikersmont burned and Navarin captured by Lijurian-Samnite forces.
The Third phase sees Sarklov send an army to bottle up the southern advances. Composed of 2500 spearmen and a thousand auxilaries, they would have to face the 3000 spearmen and 3000 auxilaries of the united army at the Seventeen Battles of Daretov (Between Kora-Torr and Navarin). Although the Zirilists lost nearly 1000 spearmen and 1000 militia after destroying only the Royal Guardsmen and an archer division, it seemed a victory for the Valyrians, who marched forward with flying colors. However, the navy of Lijuria took this as the time to swoop in and burn Vikersmont, then capture Navarin on the coast. While Hadrian hesitated, his son Honorius Tatius takes the lead and declares Samnia independent of Vallarvale. Confusion unsues.
The Fourth Phase
In the Fourth Phase, the new Kingdom of Samnia rules from Kora-Torr, as well as Navarin. The Zirilist, Samnite, Lijurian and Penal armies are all scattered in fighting various local Loyalists and renegade Warlords while the Vallarvalian Army at Sarkov sits high and dry, destroying any army which dares to stray into the “Safe” zone and building up its strength.The Samnites Stabilize the battleline south of Bellevetum.
Chaotic infighting near the front lines.
Sarkov has the only “Stable” army left.
Other than the war, both Valyria and Ctesiphod establish colonies, with Valyria spending more and gathering manyI] Faith[/I]ful to their new city.
Stat Changes: Too much. Take a look for yourself!
Osismied
Sorry, but they fought another war. Neighbors getting a bit uppity down at Cornwall though.
. Good job guys.
