Update Soundtrack:
Grateful Dead's Friend of the Devil
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If you picked up a Vassal State this turn then congratulations. Your Vassal has clued you into the location of a highly insular nation that until now only existed as barely credible rumors. Punt and Kush have been added. Punt is the one in Somalia, Kush is the one in Pakistan/India (although I imagine that you could have sussed that out on your own).
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Exiled from their homeland, severed from their language and culture, from the landmarks both mental and physical that had for so long defined them the refugees from the Land of the Sun thankfully found solace in Zulappi and The City of Peace.
And so they learned the languages and they took to writing and reading of Zullappan. But they did not forget their homeland, they passed down legends of fallen martyrs, and they did not forget the Temple of Ur. Upon the banks of a small, but very salty, sea they took the name "Dreadsea" for their settlement and set at once to the construction of a barracks.
To the North the armies of Syrius swelled with their number, and when the Iberions delivered the promised Bronze this now vast army became a formidable force indeed, and possibly a threat to the stability of the region. Rumors have already started to flow in from the East that a group of Stone Worshippers is still active in the land of thee Sun and there have been many high level assassinations of Zorrkanist officials.
Elsewhere the natives of Zulappi did not feel so pressed to conflict, focusing instead on adding libraries, farms and courthouses to their holdings, adding to the infrastructure and expanding the roads.
The Library has allowed the scholars to begin to understand the mysteries and appeal of Masonic Codes.
These people crafted luxurious goods like "Comfy Cushions" and fulfilled their sacred duties in the fields and shops of the stones. Not even the large earthquake that struck Zull and cracked large holes in the walls that will require repair managed to hold back the citizens of that city for long. But tensions mount to the East and many wonder where the Shaman will come down in the increasingly chaotic situation.
The Earthquake was felt as far away as Dreadsea and Syrius, although it did no damage to either of those cities. It was taken as a sign by the Stone Worshippers of those lands that even the earth itself is outraged by their plight. It has been taken as a good omen and the population of those areas is more excitable than normal.
(Zulappi: +Courthouse (Zull), +Library (Stone's Outpost), +Farm (Stone's Outpost), -1 Walls of Zull (5/6), +Barracks (Dreadsea), +Masonic Code (1/4), +Trade Good (Comfy Cushions), +2 Social Cohesion (Maxed), + 8 Reputation)
In Satura the Pickled Grouper did not sell a single jar's worth and no income could be gained from it since no one in Satura would ever eat the stuff. The Generals are exploring potential military applications.
There are many scrolls being written by the now literate people of Waset, Eliat, Napata and even the small Serengeti settlements and they record the histories and legends of the Saturans and Sudanese. Unfortunately the tales of Gideon have been long isolated to insular holdouts and his legend has disappeared, leaving his monument powerless to move the hearts of the people and lowering gold production.
But Zorrkanism has exploded into the Serengeti, and the faith is wildly popular among the new citizens, it seems to have struck them where the army could not and missions and small altars are springing up everywhere West of the Nule, greatly boosting the expansion of Satura across the Sahara to the West.
To the South, though, beyond the Serengeti in the humid jungles people do not care for Zorrkanism and they have built up great armies of spearmen, Bronze stolen from Tatui and determination boiling hotter with each passing moment they vow to end the Saturan expansion to the Atlantic. They have slain a Chariot group but have avoided Satura's spearmen.
In the Land of the Sun great efforts were made to modernize and expand the army, in hopes that they would be prepared against any retaliation for the purges that characterized the regime's ascent. Rangers were supplied and advisors were sent.
Although the army has been modernized and the troops all survive a large number of advisors were poisoned by unknown agents. This poisoning problem seems somewhat endemic among the leadership of the Land of the Sun, the last two High Priests have met their end that way and the strains to social cohesion have prevented the leaders there from re-establishing full control of the Land.
Compounding those problems is the new army of the City of Peace. 6 Spearmen strong and filled with the descendants of those who fled the Land of the Sun it now huddles on the border and waits for things to fall apart. It seems that they recruited every available hand as a warrior and then traded the reparations with a shadowy backer who provided them with Bronze.
When the traders arrived at Paranaa they were not greeted in the usual fashion, it seems that there have been some major political shifts in the region and that city is now a bound Vassal of the Empire of the Heavenly Dragon. The trade agreement will have to be renegotiated with the Emperor.
The acquisition of Sudan went exceedingly well. Although many were descended from Saturan revolutionaries the religious dissenters accepted the creed of tolerance and bound themselves to hold to it, especially considering the enthusiasm with which the Warlord became a Vassal, even going so far as to convert publicly to Zorrkanism. They were especially placated after the large bounty of imports began to flow into Sudan, although not even they were interested in eating rancid pickled grouper.
The new creed of tolerance did not go over well to the East. It is begrudgingly accepted in the Land of the Sun but the point is moot, as the heretics have already been exiled or executed. In Persia it took on a different character, though. As soon as it was announced and Eastern Zorroists were no longer to be exiled these Eastern Zorroists rose in force and immediately desecrated the Temple by casting the altar of Akten to the ground. There are now growing internal problems between the two factions and the Khanate is threatening to intercede on behalf of the Zorrkanists if a peaceful solution cannot be reached.
Brickmakers and smelters grew in importance as funds were allocated to their guilds, a trick of the Persians and the oracle even claims that it might have originated as a "Puzzle Peace of the Heavenly Dragon" whatever that means. Before she studied further into her texts and found the true secret of Guilds… the Masonic Code! With secret societies moving with liberty even in places where government officials would be unwelcome, getting information, motivating workers. A place where the lowborn could find rank and where the highborn could learn humility.
It was soon after the founding of the Masonic Order of Waset that those Masons chose to put their skill to the test, building the Great Temple of Zorrkanism to unite the purpose of all people as Aureas' dream of a more industrious Satura is realized.
An earthquake was felt in Waset, although it did no damage. Rumors hold that the Aset Cultists believe it to be a good omen.
(Satura: +Economic Expansion, +Trade Good (Akten's Ale), +Archiver's Mint, +Guilds, +Masonic Code, +Temple of Zorrkanism, -1 Gold Production, -1 Ranger (To Land of the Sun), -1 Chariot, +1 Social Cohesion (Maxed), +6 Reputation)
Far to the East, with the acquisition of Paranaa the Emperor of the Heavenly Dragon was taught of the nations of the West and encouraged by the locals to send emissaries to those far off lands to secure more trade routes.
In Persia though, problems arose when a new creed of religious tolerance was instituted. No longer exiled to Soo the Eastern Zorroists took steps to reclaim the temple of Parsgadae by removing the shrine to Akten and have begun a campaign of retaliation for exiled brothers and friends. The Khanate is threatening to intervene against the Eastern Zorroists if the situation is not dealt with.
More Spearmen and a great deal of infrastructure was added along the military stronghold of Bia Xi's Hold and this has done some to tame the Wild Lands but some caches of Bronze Weapons and stirrups apparently from the Khanate continue to reveal the tensions between the savages and the Dragon Flock. Although an elaborate "Merchant's Inn" was added to Bia Xi's Hold only the fairer skinned citizens of "The Empire of Junjan" are welcomed there, the soldiers and tradesmen who venture to the West. Native "Wild Men" are not permitted in even if they adopt the customs of the Dragon Lands.
The Grand Temple of the Heavenly Dragon (United Purpose) was constructed in Paranaa, providing the faith with a revival, throughout the Empire of Junjan and Paranaa the calls to meditation are followed with devout piety. The faith does not spread well in the so called Wild Lands though, where ancestor worship is the preferred doctrine. But with the expansion of military forces in the region the raids have ended and the "Wild Men" seem content to brood for now.
Eastern Zorroism continues to grow in the army and the Testament of Xerxes, some say, is issued with the training manual. This has motivated the army to take an active interest in the affairs of Persia, and to advocate for sending Agents, weapons or funds in support of the Eastern Zorroists there in the name of both the purity of their cause and to throw a curveball at the Khan, the man, they never fail to mention, who supports insurgents in the Wild Lands.
The research of Cartography was completed, and along with the new control of Paranaa this allowed the Emperor to finally understand the location and nature of the fabled "Zulappi" and "Saturans," he has even heard of a land on the far side of the world known as Iberios, whose reputation for meddling extends throughout the Mediterranean, as does the reputation of their navy.
(Empire of the Heavenly Dragon: +Economic Expansion (2), +Cartography, +2 Spearmen, +Imperial Merchant Inn (Bia Xi), +Imperial Merchant Inn (Junjan), +2 Social Cohesion, +6 Reputation)
In The Great Kingdom of Shang some attempts were made to expand north, costing the King two spearmen but beating back the Manchurians who seem to have acquired Horsemen from somewhere (many of the King's advisor's suspect the Khan).
The advance was hard won, and although the farmers are thankful for the end to the raids they wonder if the King can maintain his momentum against the northern Barbarians, especially with such high casualty rates.
But expansions in farmland and irrigation did much to calm everyone's nerves, from the farmers who grew rich with the support to the citizens of Laozai who had assured sources of food. This did not stop either group from making demands though.
The Rural people of Shang, devoted as they are to Eastern Zorroism, want the King to send support to the Persian Zorroists who even now fight a war against heretics in their nation who have controlled the temple for too long. These heretics may even call for the support of the sinister Khan's Hordes to destroy the Eastern Zorroists.
The people of Laozai though, ask for a Library, a place where they could go to get away from it all and really just read for a while, maybe catch up on the latest technology from around the world. Failing that they would settle for a less thieving gambling parlor than the "Last Penny Den."
Another, albeit smaller city has risen to the South, on the River that the Dragon's Flock call "Soo." The Shang city of Nanjing, however, has the ambition to eclipse the Dragon's Soo City. The people who settle there would very much like the King to construct some buildings in Nanjing, but they seriously doubt that he is going to listen to them.
Wanderer merchants have brought with them parts of a Dragon's Galley, and they claim that when studied this "rudder" will give an important piece to the puzzle of Sailing.
(Great Kingdom of Shang: +Economic Expansion (2), +Sailing (1/7), -2 Spearmen, +1 Social Cohesion)
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And there's also a map:
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And some diplomacy:
To: Zulappi
From: Tatui
Would you be interested in purchasing Sailing technology from us for a Common Faith discount?
To: Satura
From: City of Peace
I do not presume to tell the High Priest or his lieutenants what they ought to do. I mean, these days what's the life expectancy for one of them anyways? It wouldn't be worth my time. But I feel like, one country to another I can talk to you about some theories I have about their plight. You and I seem to be the relevant ones to have this conversation, you are the financial backer for the Land of the Sun and I am in possession of the largest army on their border, we have the power to change things there far more than their lowly High Priest.
I feel like they wouldn't have a lot of the problems that they are having if a Shaman were appointed to rule alongside the High Priest, and maybe also rebuilt the temple of our faith in Ur. I think that would be a sign of goodwill, you know, the sort of thing that really keeps the army at bay and stops you from having to deal with the fact that I could be in Ur rebuilding that Temple myself with my army, appointing a Shaman to head up executions of Zorrkan priests before you even made it out of Africa. I happen to know some people who are highly invested in your downfall, but instead of sending that messenger back on their Galley, I think we would all just be better off negotiating something that really reflects your claims of religious tolerance.
To: The Empire of the Heavenly Dragon
From: The Khanate
Mind your own business. Withdraw from the Wild Lands.
To: The Great Kingdom of Shang
From: Korea
We very much wish to learn the ways of Eastern Zorroism, will you permit missionaries of that faith to travel to our lands?
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And there are a couple new NPC stats.
Name: Punt / King Kong / NPC
Capital: Punt
Economy: 6/6
Trait: Commercial
Reputation: 20
Technologies: [Bronze Age], Writing, Guilds, Sailing
Soldiers: 3 Spearmen (Punt), 1 Galley (Explore)
Buildings: None
Trade Goods: Wine, Spices
Social Cohesion: 13
Name: Kush / Consul Scooby / NPC
Capital: Indus
Economy: 4/4
Trait: Industrious
Reputation: 20
Technologies: [Bronze Age], Writing, Guilds, Sailing (1/7)
Soldiers: 2 Spearmen (Indus), 1 Freelancer (Indus)
Buildings: Barracks (Indus), Roads, Library (Indus)
Trade Goods: Herbal Extracts
Social Cohesion: 13
