TerraNES: The Civil Experiment
- Thread starter Terrance888
- Start date
Terrance888
Discord Reigns
Before I die.
I'm working on it between a bunch of stuff, but I'm aiming for this monday.
I'm working on it between a bunch of stuff, but I'm aiming for this monday.
christos200
Never tell me the odds
Terrance, are you dead?
Daftpanzer
canonically ambiguous
Anyone who has modded a NES will tell you, such bumps/comments are not helpful! In fact they can be quite annoying. Its a really big commitment of time and effort, especially with so many players. IMO, Terrance has done really well here so far. So be patient, or send a PM / wall message if you are really concerned
Terrance888
Discord Reigns
Actually. I like bumps.
STORY/ROLE-PLAY bumps.
STORY/ROLE-PLAY bumps.
Lord_Herobrine
Back in the Saddle
And on the Eighth day, he rose again... 
He's not dead after all!
He's not dead after all!
Daftpanzer
canonically ambiguous
Sorry, I retract my earlier comment! 
spaceman98
Plotting something
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2010
- Messages
- 3,639
I am implicitly bumping this by editting the Wiki when I have time, does that count?
Terrance888
Discord Reigns
Update 18
End in Sight
Also known as: Where the Excrement meets the Rotating Cooling Device at High Speeds
900 Years into the Bronze Age
50-100 F.H.E.
230-280 AFU
And so it happened. The Civilized Horde of Katan, the Bloody Hand of Hyak and the Mighty Chariot of Egypt clashed in the Levant. And so pieces placed hundreds of years ago fell into combat as nations from Ildaris all the way to Njijnijar are affected. Naval battles for both sides ranged from just outside of the Valyrian Sea to the gates of Kosa to far south on the mouths of Eterika and the ancient harbors of Dakinsa. Men clashed year after year, the high walls of the Levant defining the battlegrounds.
But war wasn’t the only story. In Keltia, a strange peace dominated among the civilized states. As the Dragon Horde bowed and the buggerites assimilated into Faithful Society, the semi-barbaric hill-lands of South Ostava and Hilfrenks bow to their stronger neighbors even as the struggle against the barbaric Woadites continued. Reconstruction was top priority as well far away in Xilan. There, widespread projects across Japan, Korea, and Xilan greatly increases trade even as the Pusan confederacy is on the verge of completely losing to Seoul’s competition. As Ulyan and Suguda continue to expand and find initial resistance, the distant Amirites finally made contact with the enigmatic westerners.
As the first millennia of true civilization nears its last century, strange tales begin coming from the north, percolating through Varna’s secretive trade networks. Tales of murderous halfbreeds, sweeping chariot lords before them like a broom sweeps sand. Arrows flying like eagles to bury inerringly into their targets, and great cruelties as tribe fought tribe. Tales... of Centaurs.
Western Seas
“Hold the line! Keep the arrows coming!” shouted King INSERTNAMEHERE of Lamari. “To the northern flank, double time!” he called to a line reinforcements who just arrived from Malanga. The small neutral town had, when greased with peace and gold, allowed the army of their larger neighbor pass through unmolested. Thankfully, they didn’t resist, thought the king, taking those walls, flimsy as they are, would be a wound his army can’t afford when facing the Kadizite dogs.
From his viewpoint he can see the battle itself, two front lines ebbing and flowing as the impenetrable shield walls ground together, seeking any flaws in the mobile fortification to fall individuals in the opposing formation, seeking any advantage to push through and slaughter the enemy until they flee. And the fresh men proved to be just the advantage. Slowly, step by step, wound by wound, cut by cut, they pushed the kadizites off the hill that anchored their mutual flanks.
Meanwhile, the arrows continued to shower the struggling men with pain and death. Wait... the flow of shafts from his reserve line suddenly slacked off, then stopped.
“Your Majesty!” called a messenger, sprinting up the hill, “We’ve been outflanked!”
“What?” he cried.
“Spartans!”
Spar... oh gods no.
“Guards, form a rear guard with me! Spearmen, prepare to move about face and withdraw!” He waited anxiously as the whistlers sounded his orders, “Com’n... hurry. Archers! Disengage! Retreat double time!”
The Lamari Spearmen disengaged from their Kadizite counterparts, trying to retreat smoothly even as their counterparts surged with enthusiasm. Just in time, the King’s Guard entered the frey, buying them time to flee. The Archers broke and scattered as the Spartans completed their massacre. Seeing their job done, and seeing no purpose dying without glory or cause, they retreated into the hills whence they came... after smashing through a retreating company for fun, of course. Melee combat is a healthy part of a weekly exercise regimen.
The fleeing army rapidly made their way along the road back to Malaga. Unfortunately, the town now refused entry. Not only did they hear of the inglorious defeat on land, but also of their Fleet’s donkeys handed to them by the Kadizite navy, cutting off the main Leonite force in Africa. He looked back at the chasing Kadizite army, the Spartans standing out with their cohesion and their position at the front of the formation. He looked foward. 10 foot walls are nothing... until you barely have two hours to take it.
Better walls than Spartans any day.
“We’ll sleep behind the walls of Malaga tonight, even if we need to coat it with their blood! Forward!”
As his men scrambled to improvise siege equipment, he looked not to the walls or to the pursuing enemy, but to the sea. Leon must arrive from Africa soon, somehow...
Indeed, the Lamari-Leon coalition had earned moderate surprise in their sudden assault on Kadiz. The Kadizite colony of Africa was quickly stripped by the Leonite force as a blockade descended upon their throat of trade, forcing them to sign an unfavorable peace to the interior town of Roba. But the Kadizites were not helpless, as seen. Their fleet smashed the blocading enemy and, with the outflanking reinforcement of Spartans, they defeated the overaggressive probe of Lamari and forced it to hunker down in the formerly independent town of Malagi.
Surviving a short siege, the Lamari force was reinvigorated by Leonese and Lamari reinforcements. Dealing a series of body blows to Kadiz through numbers and the general quality of their standard infantry, they forced their enigmatic foe to retreat to their walled capital. The early defeats had drained the allies of the necessary manpower to simply overwhelm the great fortifications or to establish a new naval blockade. Instead, they decided to attempt to quell the rebellious countryside before investing in a tighter siege. Meanwhile, Kadiz sent ambassadors to Ildaris and Roba, pleading for aid.
Ildaris has other things on their mind. The flood of migrants begun to slow. As pioneers spread throughout paradise, the Violet Faith was granted the monastery of Verat to the south, while to the north a strange metal known as Iron was first melted in the hot furnaces of INSERTNAMEHERE foothills. Although insanely hard to work and mine, they managed to raise and arm a company men called the Hekuri Barrat already, the Iron Lancers have stated interest in the strange, mysterious metal and the somewhat secretive efforts by the Ildaran to master ts power.
Meanwhile, Kadiz asks their faithful brother for aid, citing the extremely expensive but necessary grain shipments from Varna they purchased for Kadiz on a special buyout plan, instead of simply letting the Ildaran migrants try (and likely fail) to organize such a route on their own. They pleaded... at least for old time’s sake? The Golden Faithful nation did suffer when the blockade and raiding begun... at first. Even with the blockade broken, the Great Levantine War plagued the freshly opened floodgates of grown gold. Instead, they turned their eyes north, to the growing grainbasket of the Kingdom of Alfrenks for foodstuffs. A growing minority within the nation is becoming more and more outspoken, calling for aggressive negotiations with leon to maintain Kadizite independence. Another has called to maintain peace within paradise, and to sign deals with Leon while they can.
As for the friendly state of Corona established themselves further, bolstered by Ildaran trade and Alfrenkish aid, they received three shocks which shattered their former cultural unity. First was Great Event, when the dying more tore open into a shower of sparks. Second was the Heritage, as they discovered that kingly blood formed the foundation of their people. Finally was the Occupation, as one thousand Alfrenkish warriors, the first armed men to arrive in Corona since the Iron Lancer expedition to Ildaris, established themselves in the capital. Their former cultural heart of hospitality and tolerance was greatly shaken by these new developments, although it is yet to be seen how their nation will develop.
But the Lamari War wasn’t the only adventure planned by the expansionist Titan of the Valyrian Seas. An extremely successful expedition pushed deep into the Ashlands, marking the triple-boundary between the three civilized states at a source of the Tiber. Others spread out into Oledo and Vascony, where their rookie members quickly learned the trials of war. Although they easily reached the Ildaran border in Oledo, they found it harder in Vascony as the druids rarely gave ground to their conquerors. To secure their many holdings, new fortifications were planned and built. Nueva Valyria is now home of the newest and most advanced- although not the most extensive- fortifications in the world, the gatehouses especially developed to hypothetically resist the Katanic Stonethrowers. At the new border with Ildaris, twin forts rose, marking the wealth and reach of the Triple Crown. Finally, along the Pyrenees the passes were thoroughly surveyed and scouted in preparation for a menagerie of forts, walls, watchtowers and continuous defenses.
Far from the frontier, the homefront tasted both the fruits of their armies’ labors, as well as the hardships as the Great Levantine War spread further. The Great School of Barica was completed in time to recieve a great influx of philosophers, theologians and tinkerers fleeing the Great Levantine War. Notable is a delegation sent by the Keepers of the Codex. Bringing with them a copy of their precious codex and a willingness to teach and preach, they mark the westernmost penetration of a faith born in the marshes of Aramya and flooded lowlands of Altyria.
Xilan
Pusan is dying. Deprived of markets and divided internally, the Confederation suffered greatly in the Japanese War. In one blow, their main markets became off limits even as their colonies were stripped away. Seoul smugly secures their new monopoly on the Japanese weapons trade as Pusanren wealth evaporates. With their livelihoods destroyed, many are looking to the Kingdoms of Silla or Seoul for guidence.
For Japan, they felt gratified in crushing the foreigners so utterly under their boots. Although their Shikoku fleet was trashed in fighting the much more skilled Pusanren fleet, they utterly destroyed the mainland colonies and added Korean slaves to the slave-pits. Reprisals in the form of death and slavery also fell upon Pusan-friendly natives in the region. With the campaign so short and decisive and immaculate planning, a great surplus in military goods and government supplies was saved for future use. As their project neared completion and new cities rise on the ruins on old ones, the sun shines ever brighter on the Empire of the Blinking Sun.
For the Kingdom of Seoul and the Yang Republic, the new status quo turbocharged their mercantile economies. The Kingdom’s new naval base at Seom crystallized their monopoly on Xilan-Japanese trade while the Republican project to renovate all their major ports facilitated the a great growth of regional trade routes. Highly crafted bronze goods from the mainland now make their way to Seoul to be traded for famed Korean weapons. The two mercantile states cemented their gains by signing trade agreements and establishing embassies.
Domestically, this influx of new wealth spurred new government programs and urban development. Other than the naval base, Seoul also renewed their northern offensive into the Chosen tribal lands. After a tough slug in the foothills, they managed to trap an important chief and crushed his coalition. Spreading rapidly, the Koreans secured a border with the Yang Republic as Chosen refugees swarmed to Dongye. They also placed a foot onto the mainland by establishing an outpost on the tip of the Wei Peninsula. Sporting a lighthouse and a friendly home away from home, this greatly aided navigation for the southern leg of the growing Korean-Mainland trade routes. This, along with the Seom naval base and near monopoly of two trade routes, made Sauseu Si grow even greater, all the way to touch the Seoul-Yang border. It has truly became an economic center of the Xilan region.
Yang also benefited greatly. Although much of their new wealth was tied into their growing and advanced port system, they also developed large barracks at the border-town of Bo. From there, they made peaceable contact with the Luncheshou barbarians. By engaging with gold instead of bronze, a brisk trade of horses, furs and amber for bronze crafts and luxury items sprouted, and the Luncheshou of the Saike clan have allowed the Yang to hire charioteers whenever the Republicans desired. These successes greatly increased confidence in the Confu$ionist experiment as the Wei peninsula gradually fell under near-complete Republican control.
Compared to the dynamic growth offshore, this time was a time of stagnation for the mainland. Kings and Dukes hoarded their wealth as men, on all sides weary of war and conflict, stood down. The reconsolidating Luncheshou, growing somewhat wealthy from the trade with the Yang, is offering an agreemetn between them. Xilan as a whole must maintain a tribute of 5EP a turn, or they will use their new wealth and new northern allies to return in force.
Perhaps the mainland paid for their decadent peace, but perhaps not. Treasuries and granaries are full, the warchest is bulging and the citizens are calm and confident. They are ready for a renewed series of politics as the region continues to convulse with changes.
Central Asia
Suguda continues their crusade to expand the boundaries of civilization, heading downstream towards the setting sun to establish Quan, or “Fort”. Meant to be a trade and agricultural center, it soon came under attack from the local Turans, all of whom were repulsed in short, brutal battles. The raiders were obviously not expecting such resistance from a supposedly defenseless, decadent settlement. Under Quan’s protective shadow, several nearby settlements begun sending taxes and men to the growing town and to Suguda proper.
Another force, the Shahula of Shah Kazu, offers to establish closer relationship with the Sugudans. In exchange for allying with the growing civilization and providing it his powerful force of chariots, the Sugudans would respect the independent sway of the Shah Kazu’s Shahula on the endless plains far from the settled river as well as supply it with goods and services of civilization. However, Shah Kazu isn’t the only chariot lord of the plains, and his allegience might mean hostility from other Turan Shahula and independent bands.
Meanwhile at home and within the upper Ferhan valley, the Sugudans begun a project utilizing their skills in engineering and mathematics to design an intricate and efficient irrigation system. The growing labor excites the passions of the Sugudans, who dream of bountiful harvests and large families to tame the plains and the lands beyond in the name of the Three Gods.
Further eastward, Ulyan found their own problems. The valley itself is secured, its passes guarded and its people united. Ambitiously striking a blow for their future, they settled the town of Naina downstream, well-endowed by nature and man. It’s walls hug both the mountainside and the precious ford which crosses the Yueh river. The only such safe crossing for many miles, the attempt to control it angered the Uygar who had established it’s neutrality among themselves in their endless wars. Several Uygar tribes gather on the other side of the ford, and although no combat has occurred yet conflict is steadily brewing. Despite this, less excitable tribes enjoyed the protection of the walls and stalwart guards of Naina, and trade grew both at the ford-town and along the river to Ulyan proper.
Western Africa
The Amir empire is ascendent, but even as it reaches new heights, it faces new threats. Their armies divided into three spearheads and thrust themselves onto their frontiers. At first, the southern expedition easily scattered several native groups. However, as their miners begun to set up shop, resistance begun to stiffen and even push back against the invaders. Panicking after a major mining town was razed, they rushed to the main rebel camp in hopes of preemptively destroying the gathering forces. Underestimating the strength of the native alliance, they were mauled and forced to pull out the southern jungles to luck their wounds.
The other two expeditions were more successfuly. They “pacified” the region of ______ they conquered and integrated firmly into their empire. Meanwhile, their camel archers reached out to prod the outskirts of the mysterious Woka Empire to the west. The intervening city states and tribes were absorbed. With reinforcements to these two forces undeeded, a new southern expedition was planned.
Their new, larger force struck several forces of the natives simultaneously, crushing and razing their border settlements and drawing apart the main army of their foe. Then, on the edge between the Sahel and the Jungle, their camel archers ripped apart the hapless natives, who fled into the jungle. The soldiers of Amir followed with fire, and destroyed every village within a day’s walk of their new base. Settling in the largest gold mine, they built and hunkered in their fort, mining gold and keeping a watchful eye on the gathering natives.
End in Sight
Also known as: Where the Excrement meets the Rotating Cooling Device at High Speeds
900 Years into the Bronze Age
50-100 F.H.E.
230-280 AFU
And so it happened. The Civilized Horde of Katan, the Bloody Hand of Hyak and the Mighty Chariot of Egypt clashed in the Levant. And so pieces placed hundreds of years ago fell into combat as nations from Ildaris all the way to Njijnijar are affected. Naval battles for both sides ranged from just outside of the Valyrian Sea to the gates of Kosa to far south on the mouths of Eterika and the ancient harbors of Dakinsa. Men clashed year after year, the high walls of the Levant defining the battlegrounds.
But war wasn’t the only story. In Keltia, a strange peace dominated among the civilized states. As the Dragon Horde bowed and the buggerites assimilated into Faithful Society, the semi-barbaric hill-lands of South Ostava and Hilfrenks bow to their stronger neighbors even as the struggle against the barbaric Woadites continued. Reconstruction was top priority as well far away in Xilan. There, widespread projects across Japan, Korea, and Xilan greatly increases trade even as the Pusan confederacy is on the verge of completely losing to Seoul’s competition. As Ulyan and Suguda continue to expand and find initial resistance, the distant Amirites finally made contact with the enigmatic westerners.
As the first millennia of true civilization nears its last century, strange tales begin coming from the north, percolating through Varna’s secretive trade networks. Tales of murderous halfbreeds, sweeping chariot lords before them like a broom sweeps sand. Arrows flying like eagles to bury inerringly into their targets, and great cruelties as tribe fought tribe. Tales... of Centaurs.
Western Seas
“Hold the line! Keep the arrows coming!” shouted King INSERTNAMEHERE of Lamari. “To the northern flank, double time!” he called to a line reinforcements who just arrived from Malanga. The small neutral town had, when greased with peace and gold, allowed the army of their larger neighbor pass through unmolested. Thankfully, they didn’t resist, thought the king, taking those walls, flimsy as they are, would be a wound his army can’t afford when facing the Kadizite dogs.
From his viewpoint he can see the battle itself, two front lines ebbing and flowing as the impenetrable shield walls ground together, seeking any flaws in the mobile fortification to fall individuals in the opposing formation, seeking any advantage to push through and slaughter the enemy until they flee. And the fresh men proved to be just the advantage. Slowly, step by step, wound by wound, cut by cut, they pushed the kadizites off the hill that anchored their mutual flanks.
Meanwhile, the arrows continued to shower the struggling men with pain and death. Wait... the flow of shafts from his reserve line suddenly slacked off, then stopped.
“Your Majesty!” called a messenger, sprinting up the hill, “We’ve been outflanked!”
“What?” he cried.
“Spartans!”
Spar... oh gods no.
“Guards, form a rear guard with me! Spearmen, prepare to move about face and withdraw!” He waited anxiously as the whistlers sounded his orders, “Com’n... hurry. Archers! Disengage! Retreat double time!”
The Lamari Spearmen disengaged from their Kadizite counterparts, trying to retreat smoothly even as their counterparts surged with enthusiasm. Just in time, the King’s Guard entered the frey, buying them time to flee. The Archers broke and scattered as the Spartans completed their massacre. Seeing their job done, and seeing no purpose dying without glory or cause, they retreated into the hills whence they came... after smashing through a retreating company for fun, of course. Melee combat is a healthy part of a weekly exercise regimen.
The fleeing army rapidly made their way along the road back to Malaga. Unfortunately, the town now refused entry. Not only did they hear of the inglorious defeat on land, but also of their Fleet’s donkeys handed to them by the Kadizite navy, cutting off the main Leonite force in Africa. He looked back at the chasing Kadizite army, the Spartans standing out with their cohesion and their position at the front of the formation. He looked foward. 10 foot walls are nothing... until you barely have two hours to take it.
Better walls than Spartans any day.
“We’ll sleep behind the walls of Malaga tonight, even if we need to coat it with their blood! Forward!”
As his men scrambled to improvise siege equipment, he looked not to the walls or to the pursuing enemy, but to the sea. Leon must arrive from Africa soon, somehow...
Indeed, the Lamari-Leon coalition had earned moderate surprise in their sudden assault on Kadiz. The Kadizite colony of Africa was quickly stripped by the Leonite force as a blockade descended upon their throat of trade, forcing them to sign an unfavorable peace to the interior town of Roba. But the Kadizites were not helpless, as seen. Their fleet smashed the blocading enemy and, with the outflanking reinforcement of Spartans, they defeated the overaggressive probe of Lamari and forced it to hunker down in the formerly independent town of Malagi.
Surviving a short siege, the Lamari force was reinvigorated by Leonese and Lamari reinforcements. Dealing a series of body blows to Kadiz through numbers and the general quality of their standard infantry, they forced their enigmatic foe to retreat to their walled capital. The early defeats had drained the allies of the necessary manpower to simply overwhelm the great fortifications or to establish a new naval blockade. Instead, they decided to attempt to quell the rebellious countryside before investing in a tighter siege. Meanwhile, Kadiz sent ambassadors to Ildaris and Roba, pleading for aid.
Ildaris has other things on their mind. The flood of migrants begun to slow. As pioneers spread throughout paradise, the Violet Faith was granted the monastery of Verat to the south, while to the north a strange metal known as Iron was first melted in the hot furnaces of INSERTNAMEHERE foothills. Although insanely hard to work and mine, they managed to raise and arm a company men called the Hekuri Barrat already, the Iron Lancers have stated interest in the strange, mysterious metal and the somewhat secretive efforts by the Ildaran to master ts power.
Meanwhile, Kadiz asks their faithful brother for aid, citing the extremely expensive but necessary grain shipments from Varna they purchased for Kadiz on a special buyout plan, instead of simply letting the Ildaran migrants try (and likely fail) to organize such a route on their own. They pleaded... at least for old time’s sake? The Golden Faithful nation did suffer when the blockade and raiding begun... at first. Even with the blockade broken, the Great Levantine War plagued the freshly opened floodgates of grown gold. Instead, they turned their eyes north, to the growing grainbasket of the Kingdom of Alfrenks for foodstuffs. A growing minority within the nation is becoming more and more outspoken, calling for aggressive negotiations with leon to maintain Kadizite independence. Another has called to maintain peace within paradise, and to sign deals with Leon while they can.
As for the friendly state of Corona established themselves further, bolstered by Ildaran trade and Alfrenkish aid, they received three shocks which shattered their former cultural unity. First was Great Event, when the dying more tore open into a shower of sparks. Second was the Heritage, as they discovered that kingly blood formed the foundation of their people. Finally was the Occupation, as one thousand Alfrenkish warriors, the first armed men to arrive in Corona since the Iron Lancer expedition to Ildaris, established themselves in the capital. Their former cultural heart of hospitality and tolerance was greatly shaken by these new developments, although it is yet to be seen how their nation will develop.
But the Lamari War wasn’t the only adventure planned by the expansionist Titan of the Valyrian Seas. An extremely successful expedition pushed deep into the Ashlands, marking the triple-boundary between the three civilized states at a source of the Tiber. Others spread out into Oledo and Vascony, where their rookie members quickly learned the trials of war. Although they easily reached the Ildaran border in Oledo, they found it harder in Vascony as the druids rarely gave ground to their conquerors. To secure their many holdings, new fortifications were planned and built. Nueva Valyria is now home of the newest and most advanced- although not the most extensive- fortifications in the world, the gatehouses especially developed to hypothetically resist the Katanic Stonethrowers. At the new border with Ildaris, twin forts rose, marking the wealth and reach of the Triple Crown. Finally, along the Pyrenees the passes were thoroughly surveyed and scouted in preparation for a menagerie of forts, walls, watchtowers and continuous defenses.
Far from the frontier, the homefront tasted both the fruits of their armies’ labors, as well as the hardships as the Great Levantine War spread further. The Great School of Barica was completed in time to recieve a great influx of philosophers, theologians and tinkerers fleeing the Great Levantine War. Notable is a delegation sent by the Keepers of the Codex. Bringing with them a copy of their precious codex and a willingness to teach and preach, they mark the westernmost penetration of a faith born in the marshes of Aramya and flooded lowlands of Altyria.
Xilan
Pusan is dying. Deprived of markets and divided internally, the Confederation suffered greatly in the Japanese War. In one blow, their main markets became off limits even as their colonies were stripped away. Seoul smugly secures their new monopoly on the Japanese weapons trade as Pusanren wealth evaporates. With their livelihoods destroyed, many are looking to the Kingdoms of Silla or Seoul for guidence.
For Japan, they felt gratified in crushing the foreigners so utterly under their boots. Although their Shikoku fleet was trashed in fighting the much more skilled Pusanren fleet, they utterly destroyed the mainland colonies and added Korean slaves to the slave-pits. Reprisals in the form of death and slavery also fell upon Pusan-friendly natives in the region. With the campaign so short and decisive and immaculate planning, a great surplus in military goods and government supplies was saved for future use. As their project neared completion and new cities rise on the ruins on old ones, the sun shines ever brighter on the Empire of the Blinking Sun.
For the Kingdom of Seoul and the Yang Republic, the new status quo turbocharged their mercantile economies. The Kingdom’s new naval base at Seom crystallized their monopoly on Xilan-Japanese trade while the Republican project to renovate all their major ports facilitated the a great growth of regional trade routes. Highly crafted bronze goods from the mainland now make their way to Seoul to be traded for famed Korean weapons. The two mercantile states cemented their gains by signing trade agreements and establishing embassies.
Domestically, this influx of new wealth spurred new government programs and urban development. Other than the naval base, Seoul also renewed their northern offensive into the Chosen tribal lands. After a tough slug in the foothills, they managed to trap an important chief and crushed his coalition. Spreading rapidly, the Koreans secured a border with the Yang Republic as Chosen refugees swarmed to Dongye. They also placed a foot onto the mainland by establishing an outpost on the tip of the Wei Peninsula. Sporting a lighthouse and a friendly home away from home, this greatly aided navigation for the southern leg of the growing Korean-Mainland trade routes. This, along with the Seom naval base and near monopoly of two trade routes, made Sauseu Si grow even greater, all the way to touch the Seoul-Yang border. It has truly became an economic center of the Xilan region.
Yang also benefited greatly. Although much of their new wealth was tied into their growing and advanced port system, they also developed large barracks at the border-town of Bo. From there, they made peaceable contact with the Luncheshou barbarians. By engaging with gold instead of bronze, a brisk trade of horses, furs and amber for bronze crafts and luxury items sprouted, and the Luncheshou of the Saike clan have allowed the Yang to hire charioteers whenever the Republicans desired. These successes greatly increased confidence in the Confu$ionist experiment as the Wei peninsula gradually fell under near-complete Republican control.
Compared to the dynamic growth offshore, this time was a time of stagnation for the mainland. Kings and Dukes hoarded their wealth as men, on all sides weary of war and conflict, stood down. The reconsolidating Luncheshou, growing somewhat wealthy from the trade with the Yang, is offering an agreemetn between them. Xilan as a whole must maintain a tribute of 5EP a turn, or they will use their new wealth and new northern allies to return in force.
Perhaps the mainland paid for their decadent peace, but perhaps not. Treasuries and granaries are full, the warchest is bulging and the citizens are calm and confident. They are ready for a renewed series of politics as the region continues to convulse with changes.
Central Asia
Suguda continues their crusade to expand the boundaries of civilization, heading downstream towards the setting sun to establish Quan, or “Fort”. Meant to be a trade and agricultural center, it soon came under attack from the local Turans, all of whom were repulsed in short, brutal battles. The raiders were obviously not expecting such resistance from a supposedly defenseless, decadent settlement. Under Quan’s protective shadow, several nearby settlements begun sending taxes and men to the growing town and to Suguda proper.
Another force, the Shahula of Shah Kazu, offers to establish closer relationship with the Sugudans. In exchange for allying with the growing civilization and providing it his powerful force of chariots, the Sugudans would respect the independent sway of the Shah Kazu’s Shahula on the endless plains far from the settled river as well as supply it with goods and services of civilization. However, Shah Kazu isn’t the only chariot lord of the plains, and his allegience might mean hostility from other Turan Shahula and independent bands.
Meanwhile at home and within the upper Ferhan valley, the Sugudans begun a project utilizing their skills in engineering and mathematics to design an intricate and efficient irrigation system. The growing labor excites the passions of the Sugudans, who dream of bountiful harvests and large families to tame the plains and the lands beyond in the name of the Three Gods.
Further eastward, Ulyan found their own problems. The valley itself is secured, its passes guarded and its people united. Ambitiously striking a blow for their future, they settled the town of Naina downstream, well-endowed by nature and man. It’s walls hug both the mountainside and the precious ford which crosses the Yueh river. The only such safe crossing for many miles, the attempt to control it angered the Uygar who had established it’s neutrality among themselves in their endless wars. Several Uygar tribes gather on the other side of the ford, and although no combat has occurred yet conflict is steadily brewing. Despite this, less excitable tribes enjoyed the protection of the walls and stalwart guards of Naina, and trade grew both at the ford-town and along the river to Ulyan proper.
Western Africa
The Amir empire is ascendent, but even as it reaches new heights, it faces new threats. Their armies divided into three spearheads and thrust themselves onto their frontiers. At first, the southern expedition easily scattered several native groups. However, as their miners begun to set up shop, resistance begun to stiffen and even push back against the invaders. Panicking after a major mining town was razed, they rushed to the main rebel camp in hopes of preemptively destroying the gathering forces. Underestimating the strength of the native alliance, they were mauled and forced to pull out the southern jungles to luck their wounds.
The other two expeditions were more successfuly. They “pacified” the region of ______ they conquered and integrated firmly into their empire. Meanwhile, their camel archers reached out to prod the outskirts of the mysterious Woka Empire to the west. The intervening city states and tribes were absorbed. With reinforcements to these two forces undeeded, a new southern expedition was planned.
Their new, larger force struck several forces of the natives simultaneously, crushing and razing their border settlements and drawing apart the main army of their foe. Then, on the edge between the Sahel and the Jungle, their camel archers ripped apart the hapless natives, who fled into the jungle. The soldiers of Amir followed with fire, and destroyed every village within a day’s walk of their new base. Settling in the largest gold mine, they built and hunkered in their fort, mining gold and keeping a watchful eye on the gathering natives.
Terrance888
Discord Reigns
Keltia
A new dawn rises upon the bloody peoples of Keltia. The Keltic Holy War has ended. The Buggerite Invasion has stopped. Even the “barbaric” Hifrenks and Woadites and Upper Ostavans bowed to their “civilized” overlords. As the Faithful nations worked to integrate this new influx of Buggerite Manpower into their societies, the Kingdom of Alfrenks blossom into a golden age of growth and development.
The Kingdom of Alfrenks grew steadily after their peace with the Iron Lancers, and now it covers nearly all of Frenik, the traditional Frenkish Homeland. Slowly and confidently, they marched into the Hifrenkish centers of Stonereth and Hifreth and brought the chiefs of the Hifrenks into the glory of the Frenkstrum. Showered with gifts (and somewhat intimidated) the mountain tribes couldn’t see how they could refuse. The few rebellious holdouts were efficiently combed by the warriors in the Alfrenkish military, while the loyal were given full rights as Frenkish men.
And it wasn’t a moment too soon. The call came from Ildaris that food was needed, and the Hifrenkish land, proved fertile enough to mass, “civilized”, cultivation. Ord-Nareth boomed as the breadbasket of the Suf turned to feed the men of the Golden Faith. And they were appreciative. Their offer of friendship and money has attracted a few of the Ildarin bronze masters, and even a disgruntled iron apprentice to the growing interior city. Beating on Hifrenkish bronze, the Frenks learned rapidly even as the Hifrenks enjoyed the benefits of their rapid development.
With the growth of this new lucrative trade route, the Frenkstrum turned to their brothers in Corona. They sent much needed fund, but also warriors, a thousand strong. The first armed soldiers in centuries landed in the suddenly-silent capital, bearing chests of gold.
The Coronans continued to hold their breath.
The soldiers did not leave.
A woman fainted.
Corona eventually adapted, becoming a crucial waystation for the great Grain-barges of Ord-Nareth heading towards Paradise. But combined with their new royal presumptions, the existance of foreign soldiers without opposition smacks of annexation... and worse things in their minds. That is not to say they weren’t thankful. But rather, their confusion at this “mere oversight” proved to be the heart of many a pretender’s speeches.
With the Alfrenks proving themselves a bastion of stability, many of their neighbors took note. The Frenkish minority living in Andareth, Armorica- the southern bank of the Loire- have begun agitating for their governor to bow to the Alfrenks instead of the Armoricans. The turmoil-tossed Iron Lancers too found sanctuary within Alfrenkish borders. Loreth, already a great city of immigrants and pilgrims heading towards the ruins of Nessos, burst into prominence as Arles was turned over to Tarase. Dozens of people gather in this city of peace as Lancers, Frenks, Ildarins, Leonese, Taresans, Armoricans, Buertgang and others lived in, if not peace, harmony. People gather to share their knowledge, and a cultural center is born.
As for the Iron Lancers, Jonnah was killed. Myles, who managed to pass the Tests, fell before the competition itself. With the Archfaelinkrisr AND Iron Prophet gone, and the heir apparent dead, the region fell into turmoil.
But the Organization was stronger than many believed. After discussion, a council was set up and a new Iron Prophet was chosen. Untested, this Lancer fell soon to nature, but by then the crisis is over.
Now Othar is the Iron Prophet. He is strong of body, but clearly weak of mind. He advocated an isolationist, internalist, and non-interventionalist policy. As Danyaria is closed to the Iron Lancers and the Great Southern Project fails miserably, the Iron Lancers under his lead begun rebuilding and recuiting, building the heart of a new state on the Rhone.
Othar, infact, ignored many of the Buertgang’s policies. Most importantly for the Iron Faith was the Imperial Declaration of Faith.
“Bloody Throne has issued a declaration of religious neutrality and isolation; no conflict between sects of the Faith will be permitted in Beurtgang lands, and the armies of the Sanguinary Emperor and his clansmen will punish any offenders accordingly”
The Iron Lancers of Danyaria, an suborganization attached to their military and over three centuries veteran, thusly left the vassal state. The Forsworn surged and tried to take control, only to be stopped by the bloody hands of the Sanguinary Emperor. Danyaria was cleansed more thoroughly than any Iron Lancer proclaimation, and the Empire was secured.
Rumors speak of even more drastic responses, but none of it has come about.
The Buertgang Empire then went to secure their new Buggerite and Ostavan populations. The Upper Ostavans, of the mysterious and nonthreatening “Belief”, were annexed with little issue, the Bloody Armies marching on their victory in securing the stability of Danyaria. New roads, perhaps based on the Druidic Roads to the east but more likely of the Emperor’s own invention (for he obviously invented all that was good in the world) spiderwebbed between the growing towns teeming with buggerites and the solitary towers sprouting on earthen mounds.
Ah yes, the buggerites. Even with the great slaughter and victories of yesteryear, many emerged from the hills and hollows of “Bugaria” between the old Vahlshallan and Buertgang frontiers. Finding abandoned fields, emptied towns and little-maintained buildings, all symptoms of the Holy Keltic War, they soon left the thick, choking Bugarian woods into the cities and irrigated yet abandoned fields by the great Faithful rivers. These peoples are excellent warriors, charioteers, and schemers. Many also found solace in herding and, surprisingly, agriculture. But few found the crafting centers that are Faithful cities appealing, and these few, which is to say, these many litter the streets, sometimes begging and sometimes stealing their next meals. By last count, a third of Vahlshallah is now composed of these semi-barbaric and semi-assimilated peoples. For Buertgang it’s a half. For Danyaria, some venture to guess two-thirds.
However, Xilexis (and the new Draxonis state) are both entirely Buggerite. And they showed two sides of their people. Xilexis, ever victorious, having drawn tribute from Vahlshallah several times and commanding an ever growing empire, has recently claimed overlordship over all Keltia, however far it extends, to the distant seas their downtrodden cousins have claimed to see. Draxonis, meanwhile, was meek and conciliatory. They know firsthand the might of the Faith, and sought to join what they could not fight. Many converted, although many also preserved their own firey traditions or merged the new with the old. With Vahlshallah providing many much needed funds and foodstuffs to help them “civilize”, the Draxonis are slowly leaning towards their seemingly friendly eastern neighbor over the great monster to the west.
Vahlshallah does not dissapoint. Recognized by Iron Prophet Othar and welcomed back into the community of the Faith, the Forsworn gained yet more recruits as Danyaria was closed by the Sanguinary empire. Vahlshallan troops plod steadily eastward, bringing devastated former-red-march lands as well as submissive teut villagers alike into their growing kingdom, until their furthest tendril touched the outskirts of a prosperous Prusijia.
At home too, they developed. Pommerania, mollified by the seemingly saner leadership at Spire, brought Hamburg’s crisis into Vahshallah attention. Conquered by the Lsinore barbarians, it was a moment to strike. And strike they did. A General and supposed member of the Forsworn crushed the Lsinore with overwhelming force, and oncemore raised the grey flag of Vahlshallah over the Great Northern Sea.
And the new states even further east? Suione collapsed after their young king was destroyed by a mighty rock from the heavens, the rebels pillaging the capital and “liberating” the taxes stored within. Prusijia continued to prosper, but little leadership emerged from their palace as princes wander the town, talking with commoners and eating common foods.
But things are different for states far to the west. On the sleepy land if Hibernia, two states rose. The High Kingdom of Hibernia to the north rose to challenge Armorica once more. A union of several clans, each chief serves a year in rotation, and each clan has heirs ready. They understood assassination is all to likely, but that if they failed, assimilating is far more likelier. Although many wish to simply expunge the Armoricans from their emerald homeland, the prevailing wisdom is containment and trade.
To the south, the Mun Confederation was much more centralized in leadership, but less so in government. “A confederation of tribes that has banded together with the growing influx of barbarians to the north. While they do not completely agree with one another on all internal issues, they do know there is strength in unity, and because of that the various tribes have come together to form the Mun Confederation, with the leader of the Confederation being the leader of the largest tribe in the region, the Mun. They are primarily a fishing culture that live along the coast. Good sailors, often having to leave the sight of land to fish, they are also skilled warriors from the constant fighting they have with the various barbarian tribes that surround them, including the Cunnucht, Unsti, and Linstan which surround their borders.”
Of these, the Linstan, a highlander herding clan, seemed the most threatening to the young coglomorate of many of Linstan’s former rivals.
The fishermen of Mun, meanwhile, ranged far to the south of their home. Perhaps it is fate... or perhaps it is the prevailing currents. But a strong storm sent a somewhat oversized fishing vessel owned by the Chieftain’s brother to capsize near Corona after weeks of drifting. Although he firstly wants to go home, he has seen many wonders in this new world, including those offered by the Ildaris.
But to do that, he would most likely travel through the land of Armorica. He knows little of that land, except that it is the origins of the shadow demons that plague the northern clans of Hibernia.
Armorica itself now feels like she has recieved the short end of the Holy Keltic War. It is true that over half of Ostava is within their borders. And it is true that their lands are less devastated and depopulated than Buertgang’s, Vahlshallah’s, or Dumonos’. But it is also true that they are badly positioned to repair even the little damage done to their country, as more and more Armoricans migrate to Brygantia and aid the fight to kill or convert the ceaseless horde of Woad.
However, they did move on. The Druidic Roads, crucial to the last-breath attacks near the end of the Great War, were finally completed. Extending deep into the ruins of Ostava, it sparks a regrowth in that land as it’s towns and cities finally return to a sembalence of normality. Calet, serving the great Seine and the Ostavans living inland, grew into a port city in its own right.
But yet again, the focus of the Armoricans is on war. And this war is in Brygantia. Centuries of Unsullied, and thousands of Armorican citizens, joined the enbattled Dumonos against the Woad. Thousands are thrown into “Dry Camps” where they suffer from teufela withdrawal, becoming demons as they howl to the sky and ripped themselves apart in search of imaginary ants crawling throughout their veins. Dumonos is rebuilt by the survivors, themselves in chains but their children, educated in a woad-free environment, members of a slowly normalizing society.
Although the Brygantian Union frowns on such developments, it could do nothing. It’s Iron Lancer contingent has pulled out, and only the Daughter of the Trinity supplies their base. And it is under the banner of the Daughters of the Trinity that all but the Unsullied fought under. Accusations of streching the treaty were whispered by the few Iron Militia who choose to remain, but none dared to ask for aid, or bring it up in an official complaint.
More concerning, perhaps, is the fall of Kentus’ beseiged northern colony.
The Monstrous Great Levantine Cluster-Damn You Autoblock-ing Huge Excrement Hitting Massive Fans Spraying -Damn You Autoblock- All Over the Neighborhood
The Great Levantine War spread quickly. What started outside of Tyre as the Egyptian his Hyakkid counterpart declared war on each other soon roped in many more. Katan joined in on Hyak’s side, eager for Egyptian Loot. Meanwhile, Novaricum and Utica saw this as a chance to end Levantine dominance of the Eastern Seas once and for all. The King of Mediolanum saw this as his best chance at libering his Koislyu-Cytrian cousins in Apulia and Epirus even Bekke built an entirely new fleet to defend Egypt’s trade routes. As pirates flourished in the collapse of states, Dakinsa invades Aryan-Conquered Khand only to be invaded by Hormun and Gujarat. And betrayal, as certain men rose his sword against their lieges, and changed history altogether.
At first, of course, it was merely a matter of Egypt and Hyak, fighting over the Levantine League. Although the league has controversially voted to join Hyak with the Administrator’s tie-breaking vote, there are many betrayals and secret deals that immortalized day, commemorated in the contemporary play “Cyrus, Begone” and more in the future.
However, Egypt was at the time distracted with unfinished business. Gathering his army towards him, the old King cut southward once more to finish off the scattered Nirilist hosts and simmering Kuhorsehockyes once and for all. Under his assault the Nirilists scattered, but the Kuhorsehockyes seemed bolstered. Raising armies and arming every last man, women, and child, they massacred the colonial Nubians and rose the flag of Kush over Khartkorom. When the Egyptians arrived another series of desparate battles fought the Egyptians to a disappointing draw, the cliffs and terrain of Kush once again limiting their ability to utilize their mass.
Meanwhile, events were moving apace. The High King Sharkali-sar quickly marched his formidable forces from the Zargatu fronteir and helped the Administrator tamp down simmering rebellion as he met with the High King of War from Katan, signing the historic Pact of Harran. Two great fleets set sail from Tyre and Thloryn, headed for Egyptian Enkomi. There, a detachment of the Great Fleet was utterly thrashed by the allies. As they prepared to head south, however, news came of Woet’s fall. Novaricum and Utica’s fleets are on their way.
And so, as the King of Egypt was concluding a (temporary, he thought) vassalization agreement with a restored Kingdom of Kush, the great Fleet of Egypt was lured out of their Deltan docks to clash with their foes. The Monoremes overran many a curragh, but the new Katanic Longboats prove quite sturdy, if not sturdy enough, against their rams. The Dorian tribesman attacked desparately as the Katanic experimented with ship-bourne stone throwers against the massive beasts. But in the end, the Egyptian barges saved the day. Massive reinforced warships overcrowded with archers and warriors, the mere weight of arrows can sink many a curragh. With these reinforcements, many captured Monoremes were recaptured as a swarm of spears simply shoved the Dorian tribesmen and Tyrian marines into the sea. Beaten, back the Pact fleet fled to Tyre.
And so begun a naval war of cat and mouse as the old King laboriously brought his army back north. Battle after battle was fought, the size and open seas allowing for retreat after retreat. The Novaricum and Utican fleet was overwhelmed by nearly a hundred curraghs, barely escaping as the Fallen Sea Fleet arrived to reinforce the Katanic Garrison. Meanwhile, as one Tyrian curragh after another was swatted asside, the main Pact “Invasion Fleet” retraced the route home, pursued by their Egyptian Counterparts with a vengenace.
Finally, under the watchful eyes of Sanitorini, the great fleets crashed in full once more. This time, the Longboats are reinforced by the Doussan Altyrians. These highly advanced ships are indeed smaller than monoremes, but they are more maneuverable, faster, stronger, and even cheaper than their oversized egyptian counterparts. But it was too little too late. The monoremes chewed through the center of the desparate Pact battleline while Novaricum Raiders and Wolfships nipped the flanks. As the Doussan flagship grappled with the Admiral’s War Barge, itself disabled by a stone thrower, it seemed the battle was in balance. But then the flagship bucked and sank, crushed by a barge pushing on the otherside. And the pact fleet fled into theri various ports.
The sea belonged to Egypt. For now. It was 15 since the start of the war.
In the meanwhile, Acre fell to Egypt and many battles were fought between the nomadic allies of Bedouin. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Nasharu has gathered a mighty army in Damascus. Charioteers from Mazderah and Medea, experienced and skilled with the art of the cart. Foot soldiers from Alamhadat and Ortun, ten thousand strong. Scouts and Archers from Doussa, and Exnotic Knights from Kosa itself. Another tenthousand Bedouin and Semetic tribesmen joined them. And this is not even counting the countless thousands of troops trained throughout the empire proper.
This new army, in addition to his Father’s Army, and the Katanic Army, and the Administrator’s army, will surely spell the end of the decadent Egyptians.
But the League, although by then officially merged whole with Hyak, was not well. Both Ugarit and Byblos bubbled with resentment. Hyakkid agents incited a Byblon conspiracy to act early, to be massacred. They were less successful in Ugarit, where the locals threw out the Administrator’s garrison and locked the walls. Knowing how green his men is, the Administrator pulled his army out and besieged Ugarit itself, even as the growing Hyakkid army, bolstered by allies, besieged Acre.
But there seems to be a back way into Canaan other than along the Egyptian-dominated coast. He sent the Mazderah Prince and his chariots into the highlands and sandy plains of Golan to do battle with the Egyptians there. In two decisive battles, he humiliated the bedouin chief and the local Egyptian chariotry, and then drove south, deep into Canaan. Joined by Nasharu, the allies of Hyak crushed army after army, eventually taking the entire interior of Canaan less than five years after Santinorini.
By then, the Egyptians at Acre themselves held two armies. One was the Kuhorsehockye Veterans, marched from their southern front and now holding the town. Another was the twenty five thousand levies and ten thousand soldiers the Egyptians rose to reinforce their position. With the fall of Jerusalem and even more Hyakkid troops sent to secure the highlands, they saw an opportunity to make an example.
Smashing into the Hyakkid siege works, the battle of Acre was the first true set piece land battle of the war. Levies guarded thousands of Egyptian archers as they rained death upon the Hyakkids. Ox chariots trample dozens before their enraged animals are killed. Spearmen stood up to charge after charge while the dreaded Qarabu sliced their way into the heart of the Egyptian Army. The young King Optikoron was amazed. Nearly his entire army against barely ⅔ of Hyak’s, not even counting the Administrators, or Allies, or Katan’s. And... was he... was he... LOSING? He quickly pulled his force into Acre, where they shared various supplies and plotted their next moves.
He was distraught. It was true that Katan is now preoccupied with rebellion in Apulia. It was also true his army was hurt, although not as badly as he first thought. Worse, even supplied by sea, Acre cannot support the amount of men currently behind its walls.
He made up his mind after weeks of thought, and even while Hyak’s allies moved closer and closer to Timnia, it seemed the Egyptians were content eating their way through Acre’s dwindling granary.
Then came the news. The Administrator’s Army has been crushed by an Egyptian sortie out of Ugarit and Byblos. The stone throwers assigned there were captured, to the chagrin of the Katanic Prince overseeing that operation.
Just like that, the Egyptians were gone, their efficient fleet taking them Takarzi knows where. Nasharu begins a hopeful assault on Acre, but the Egyptian reinforcements arrived just in time. No, he must stay inland. Already the copper mines of Timia has fallen, and his Bedouins are defeating the Sinai tribes one by one.
The year was 30 after the start of the War, when news came that an Egyptian army is assembling in Hormun.
And now we must come to whole other theater of the war. Bekke, having paid 10 EP of desert loot for exclusive control over egyptian trade, found that their lack of a fleet is... quite lacking in defending Egyptian trade routes. Quickly building a fleet, they found they weren’t quick enough. Caves and cliffs along the Bekken coasts became home to corsairs and pirates of every stripe.
Dakinsa too, was suspicious and begun attacking raiders themselves, using their long boats to good effect. This helped Egyptian trade somewhat, as the smaller powers were able to police their fleets much easier than the greater powers could.
But Dakinsa was on a warpath elsewhere. The Raj dragged his yowling, contentious nation into a great war against the Aryan Empire. The great treasury emptied from Dakinsa poured into massive armies of men. It was this massive fist that crushed the Aryan rabble and liberated Daretokimas. And it was this massive fist that plunged again and again into the corpse of what was once the realm of the Iron Crown.
It was a flash as the great Egyptian fleet sailed around the great expense of the Bekken peninsula, emptying markets of food as they turned north, and followed by great, undefended supplies and barges.
The raiders had a field day, and attacked Dakinsa once more. Incense, the now wardrunk Rajdom slashed out, and managed to find a Gujarati official in an compromising position with several of the prominent Corsairs of the Khandic seas.
Angrily, they blockaded their former friend. But even as Egypt marched into Bekke, Hormun and Gujarat marched into Dakinsa proper. All Khand convulsed as the old Rajdom collapsed. Colonies declared independent and fought for supremacy. The Atanka declared independence even as the Daretokimas campaign collapsed upon itself.
And everywhere, the Aryans advanced.
But this backdrop does not seem to affect the Egyptian General as he chopped off the head of the old Bekken lord, who has handed his Kingship to his son-in-law, the new High King. Except that without the diligent longboats and great fields of Dakinsa providing for his army, his men are starving. Worse still, the Hyakkid forces are marching faster than he expected, marching towards him.
But it seemed that the dead King’s manuvering has worked. The King of Ortun raised armies, but did not march against him as he levied Bedouin and Aramyan to suppliment his forces. But yet, his desired news had not yet come.
When it did, it was dissapointing. The King of Alamhadat closed the city and sacked the great Palace of the High King, and exculted in his victory... until his own guards stabbed him in the back. They know the penalty of betraying the Avatar of the Bloody hand, and so served justice where it is due.
The scions of the last, unnamed King of Alamhadat scattered across central Hyakkia, destroying and fighting, trying to make for Egypt’s lines, where they can fall under their protection. It was then, even as Egypt made its way north, that the King of Ortun finally moved. Crushing rebellious prince after Prince, he cleared the way for the new High King of Hyak, the young Nasharu-Sar, to be coronated on his blood-stained throne, even as many of the line of Sarrukan-Sar and other great kings are buried, killed by the unnamed King’s treachury.
Egypt has sailed and marched far, but in the end they could not face Hyak. Their forces were crushed and battered, and tossed into the waters of Danu. Bekke was freed, and the rebellious Aramyan cities were once more put to the sword.
Even then, the weakened fleet in Egypt Proper, abandoned by their Novaricum and Utican “Allies”, faced a resurgent fleet from Katan, and this time, the Fallen Sea has triumphed over their Long Sea foes. Damietta falls into an orgy of conquest and destruction as Acre surrendered and the Sinai collapsed. The Pact forces stood on the edge of Anor itself, as a new untested Egyptian King and his levies stood.
But at what cost?
Mediolanum’s rebellion in Epirus and Apulia cost many Katanic lives. Although Epirus is “pacified” and Apulia now under Katanic siege, the alluring song of the Melody spread faster than the Keepers of the Codex can denounce it.
Too, the High prince of Trezibond and the Dukes of Altyria attempted to rebel after the failure of the first Fallen Sea Fleet and the death of the finally reinstated wheat trade. Although loot now flows back into Kosa and beyond, and the might of the High King of War has never been less accused, an undercurrent of discontent has returned to Princes supporting him.
Utica and Novaricum have gained the Thloryn Islands and the colonies of the League, and established a short ceasefire as the rejuvinated Fallen Sea Fleet sailed once more. Will the Pact now turn their eyes upon them once they “finish off” Egypt proper? And what of the spreading Melody of Ziril and Exnot and the loss of their trade?
Hyak has annexed the League, but its trade, its fleet, and its people are all ruined. Smoke hangs above each Levantine city as corpses of rebels are burned. Even as they destroyed Egypt’s homeland, their own is not unscarred. The great Irrigation Works of Bekke are destroyed in spite by the fleeing Egyptians. The Unnamed King has killed most of the the High King’s bloodline.
Mazderah gained great prestige in battle, but so few men return from the war, and so many are called again and yet again to the front.
Varna is on the verge of collapse. Even after their great celebration and return of the Danubian Expedition, the Melody spreads relentlessly, and the Altyrians agitate for freedom and empire.
Bekke is ruined too. Their treasures spent, their fleets captured, their honor lost.
Even Axum paid heavily for this war. Trade was effectively stabbed in the heart as Dakinsa collapsed and raiders encroach upon their own merchants. Several of their own colonies are sacked by the Corsairs of the Khandic sea. The success of their mercenaries and the growth of their mining and farming wealth seemed to pale as their traditional source of wealth all but disappeared.
And Dakinsa... the last of the First Nations. Gone, entirely gone. Their colonies have rebelled from their costly war, and now fight for supremacy all across the Khandic sea. Their capital is occupied by their former friends on Gujarat. Their generals fight among their Ayran mercenaries, even as tribe after tribe begun moving into the great river valley itself.
But it is with all wars. The scale was, prehaps, greater than anyone has expected. But the outcome would have been the same regardless. There were great risks and great rewards, and all nations have received great shares of both pies.
OOC:
@ Lord of Elves and Eltain; I am just very very very very very bored with “civilization fights barbarians” thing and both of you have a decent enough reason they won’t fight. So they didn’t. Unfortunately, this is quite a significant land grab and much of it is undeveloped. For Lord of Elves, that also goes for much of Buggerite land you are annexing, although not so much the reconquered places.
@ People Who Finished Killing Buggerites
You all have somewhere between 30-60% of your population as Buggerite/Teut/Ostavan or other recently assimilated barbarians.
@Spaceman: Training corrected automatically. 10 ships=1 unit. Excess banked.
@Mayor and Bonefang: You are nearing the max of current trade routes.
A new dawn rises upon the bloody peoples of Keltia. The Keltic Holy War has ended. The Buggerite Invasion has stopped. Even the “barbaric” Hifrenks and Woadites and Upper Ostavans bowed to their “civilized” overlords. As the Faithful nations worked to integrate this new influx of Buggerite Manpower into their societies, the Kingdom of Alfrenks blossom into a golden age of growth and development.
The Kingdom of Alfrenks grew steadily after their peace with the Iron Lancers, and now it covers nearly all of Frenik, the traditional Frenkish Homeland. Slowly and confidently, they marched into the Hifrenkish centers of Stonereth and Hifreth and brought the chiefs of the Hifrenks into the glory of the Frenkstrum. Showered with gifts (and somewhat intimidated) the mountain tribes couldn’t see how they could refuse. The few rebellious holdouts were efficiently combed by the warriors in the Alfrenkish military, while the loyal were given full rights as Frenkish men.
And it wasn’t a moment too soon. The call came from Ildaris that food was needed, and the Hifrenkish land, proved fertile enough to mass, “civilized”, cultivation. Ord-Nareth boomed as the breadbasket of the Suf turned to feed the men of the Golden Faith. And they were appreciative. Their offer of friendship and money has attracted a few of the Ildarin bronze masters, and even a disgruntled iron apprentice to the growing interior city. Beating on Hifrenkish bronze, the Frenks learned rapidly even as the Hifrenks enjoyed the benefits of their rapid development.
With the growth of this new lucrative trade route, the Frenkstrum turned to their brothers in Corona. They sent much needed fund, but also warriors, a thousand strong. The first armed soldiers in centuries landed in the suddenly-silent capital, bearing chests of gold.
The Coronans continued to hold their breath.
The soldiers did not leave.
A woman fainted.
Corona eventually adapted, becoming a crucial waystation for the great Grain-barges of Ord-Nareth heading towards Paradise. But combined with their new royal presumptions, the existance of foreign soldiers without opposition smacks of annexation... and worse things in their minds. That is not to say they weren’t thankful. But rather, their confusion at this “mere oversight” proved to be the heart of many a pretender’s speeches.
With the Alfrenks proving themselves a bastion of stability, many of their neighbors took note. The Frenkish minority living in Andareth, Armorica- the southern bank of the Loire- have begun agitating for their governor to bow to the Alfrenks instead of the Armoricans. The turmoil-tossed Iron Lancers too found sanctuary within Alfrenkish borders. Loreth, already a great city of immigrants and pilgrims heading towards the ruins of Nessos, burst into prominence as Arles was turned over to Tarase. Dozens of people gather in this city of peace as Lancers, Frenks, Ildarins, Leonese, Taresans, Armoricans, Buertgang and others lived in, if not peace, harmony. People gather to share their knowledge, and a cultural center is born.
As for the Iron Lancers, Jonnah was killed. Myles, who managed to pass the Tests, fell before the competition itself. With the Archfaelinkrisr AND Iron Prophet gone, and the heir apparent dead, the region fell into turmoil.
But the Organization was stronger than many believed. After discussion, a council was set up and a new Iron Prophet was chosen. Untested, this Lancer fell soon to nature, but by then the crisis is over.
Now Othar is the Iron Prophet. He is strong of body, but clearly weak of mind. He advocated an isolationist, internalist, and non-interventionalist policy. As Danyaria is closed to the Iron Lancers and the Great Southern Project fails miserably, the Iron Lancers under his lead begun rebuilding and recuiting, building the heart of a new state on the Rhone.
Othar, infact, ignored many of the Buertgang’s policies. Most importantly for the Iron Faith was the Imperial Declaration of Faith.
“Bloody Throne has issued a declaration of religious neutrality and isolation; no conflict between sects of the Faith will be permitted in Beurtgang lands, and the armies of the Sanguinary Emperor and his clansmen will punish any offenders accordingly”
The Iron Lancers of Danyaria, an suborganization attached to their military and over three centuries veteran, thusly left the vassal state. The Forsworn surged and tried to take control, only to be stopped by the bloody hands of the Sanguinary Emperor. Danyaria was cleansed more thoroughly than any Iron Lancer proclaimation, and the Empire was secured.
Rumors speak of even more drastic responses, but none of it has come about.
The Buertgang Empire then went to secure their new Buggerite and Ostavan populations. The Upper Ostavans, of the mysterious and nonthreatening “Belief”, were annexed with little issue, the Bloody Armies marching on their victory in securing the stability of Danyaria. New roads, perhaps based on the Druidic Roads to the east but more likely of the Emperor’s own invention (for he obviously invented all that was good in the world) spiderwebbed between the growing towns teeming with buggerites and the solitary towers sprouting on earthen mounds.
Ah yes, the buggerites. Even with the great slaughter and victories of yesteryear, many emerged from the hills and hollows of “Bugaria” between the old Vahlshallan and Buertgang frontiers. Finding abandoned fields, emptied towns and little-maintained buildings, all symptoms of the Holy Keltic War, they soon left the thick, choking Bugarian woods into the cities and irrigated yet abandoned fields by the great Faithful rivers. These peoples are excellent warriors, charioteers, and schemers. Many also found solace in herding and, surprisingly, agriculture. But few found the crafting centers that are Faithful cities appealing, and these few, which is to say, these many litter the streets, sometimes begging and sometimes stealing their next meals. By last count, a third of Vahlshallah is now composed of these semi-barbaric and semi-assimilated peoples. For Buertgang it’s a half. For Danyaria, some venture to guess two-thirds.
However, Xilexis (and the new Draxonis state) are both entirely Buggerite. And they showed two sides of their people. Xilexis, ever victorious, having drawn tribute from Vahlshallah several times and commanding an ever growing empire, has recently claimed overlordship over all Keltia, however far it extends, to the distant seas their downtrodden cousins have claimed to see. Draxonis, meanwhile, was meek and conciliatory. They know firsthand the might of the Faith, and sought to join what they could not fight. Many converted, although many also preserved their own firey traditions or merged the new with the old. With Vahlshallah providing many much needed funds and foodstuffs to help them “civilize”, the Draxonis are slowly leaning towards their seemingly friendly eastern neighbor over the great monster to the west.
Vahlshallah does not dissapoint. Recognized by Iron Prophet Othar and welcomed back into the community of the Faith, the Forsworn gained yet more recruits as Danyaria was closed by the Sanguinary empire. Vahlshallan troops plod steadily eastward, bringing devastated former-red-march lands as well as submissive teut villagers alike into their growing kingdom, until their furthest tendril touched the outskirts of a prosperous Prusijia.
At home too, they developed. Pommerania, mollified by the seemingly saner leadership at Spire, brought Hamburg’s crisis into Vahshallah attention. Conquered by the Lsinore barbarians, it was a moment to strike. And strike they did. A General and supposed member of the Forsworn crushed the Lsinore with overwhelming force, and oncemore raised the grey flag of Vahlshallah over the Great Northern Sea.
And the new states even further east? Suione collapsed after their young king was destroyed by a mighty rock from the heavens, the rebels pillaging the capital and “liberating” the taxes stored within. Prusijia continued to prosper, but little leadership emerged from their palace as princes wander the town, talking with commoners and eating common foods.
But things are different for states far to the west. On the sleepy land if Hibernia, two states rose. The High Kingdom of Hibernia to the north rose to challenge Armorica once more. A union of several clans, each chief serves a year in rotation, and each clan has heirs ready. They understood assassination is all to likely, but that if they failed, assimilating is far more likelier. Although many wish to simply expunge the Armoricans from their emerald homeland, the prevailing wisdom is containment and trade.
To the south, the Mun Confederation was much more centralized in leadership, but less so in government. “A confederation of tribes that has banded together with the growing influx of barbarians to the north. While they do not completely agree with one another on all internal issues, they do know there is strength in unity, and because of that the various tribes have come together to form the Mun Confederation, with the leader of the Confederation being the leader of the largest tribe in the region, the Mun. They are primarily a fishing culture that live along the coast. Good sailors, often having to leave the sight of land to fish, they are also skilled warriors from the constant fighting they have with the various barbarian tribes that surround them, including the Cunnucht, Unsti, and Linstan which surround their borders.”
Of these, the Linstan, a highlander herding clan, seemed the most threatening to the young coglomorate of many of Linstan’s former rivals.
The fishermen of Mun, meanwhile, ranged far to the south of their home. Perhaps it is fate... or perhaps it is the prevailing currents. But a strong storm sent a somewhat oversized fishing vessel owned by the Chieftain’s brother to capsize near Corona after weeks of drifting. Although he firstly wants to go home, he has seen many wonders in this new world, including those offered by the Ildaris.
But to do that, he would most likely travel through the land of Armorica. He knows little of that land, except that it is the origins of the shadow demons that plague the northern clans of Hibernia.
Armorica itself now feels like she has recieved the short end of the Holy Keltic War. It is true that over half of Ostava is within their borders. And it is true that their lands are less devastated and depopulated than Buertgang’s, Vahlshallah’s, or Dumonos’. But it is also true that they are badly positioned to repair even the little damage done to their country, as more and more Armoricans migrate to Brygantia and aid the fight to kill or convert the ceaseless horde of Woad.
However, they did move on. The Druidic Roads, crucial to the last-breath attacks near the end of the Great War, were finally completed. Extending deep into the ruins of Ostava, it sparks a regrowth in that land as it’s towns and cities finally return to a sembalence of normality. Calet, serving the great Seine and the Ostavans living inland, grew into a port city in its own right.
But yet again, the focus of the Armoricans is on war. And this war is in Brygantia. Centuries of Unsullied, and thousands of Armorican citizens, joined the enbattled Dumonos against the Woad. Thousands are thrown into “Dry Camps” where they suffer from teufela withdrawal, becoming demons as they howl to the sky and ripped themselves apart in search of imaginary ants crawling throughout their veins. Dumonos is rebuilt by the survivors, themselves in chains but their children, educated in a woad-free environment, members of a slowly normalizing society.
Although the Brygantian Union frowns on such developments, it could do nothing. It’s Iron Lancer contingent has pulled out, and only the Daughter of the Trinity supplies their base. And it is under the banner of the Daughters of the Trinity that all but the Unsullied fought under. Accusations of streching the treaty were whispered by the few Iron Militia who choose to remain, but none dared to ask for aid, or bring it up in an official complaint.
More concerning, perhaps, is the fall of Kentus’ beseiged northern colony.
The Monstrous Great Levantine Cluster-Damn You Autoblock-ing Huge Excrement Hitting Massive Fans Spraying -Damn You Autoblock- All Over the Neighborhood
The Great Levantine War spread quickly. What started outside of Tyre as the Egyptian his Hyakkid counterpart declared war on each other soon roped in many more. Katan joined in on Hyak’s side, eager for Egyptian Loot. Meanwhile, Novaricum and Utica saw this as a chance to end Levantine dominance of the Eastern Seas once and for all. The King of Mediolanum saw this as his best chance at libering his Koislyu-Cytrian cousins in Apulia and Epirus even Bekke built an entirely new fleet to defend Egypt’s trade routes. As pirates flourished in the collapse of states, Dakinsa invades Aryan-Conquered Khand only to be invaded by Hormun and Gujarat. And betrayal, as certain men rose his sword against their lieges, and changed history altogether.
At first, of course, it was merely a matter of Egypt and Hyak, fighting over the Levantine League. Although the league has controversially voted to join Hyak with the Administrator’s tie-breaking vote, there are many betrayals and secret deals that immortalized day, commemorated in the contemporary play “Cyrus, Begone” and more in the future.
However, Egypt was at the time distracted with unfinished business. Gathering his army towards him, the old King cut southward once more to finish off the scattered Nirilist hosts and simmering Kuhorsehockyes once and for all. Under his assault the Nirilists scattered, but the Kuhorsehockyes seemed bolstered. Raising armies and arming every last man, women, and child, they massacred the colonial Nubians and rose the flag of Kush over Khartkorom. When the Egyptians arrived another series of desparate battles fought the Egyptians to a disappointing draw, the cliffs and terrain of Kush once again limiting their ability to utilize their mass.
Meanwhile, events were moving apace. The High King Sharkali-sar quickly marched his formidable forces from the Zargatu fronteir and helped the Administrator tamp down simmering rebellion as he met with the High King of War from Katan, signing the historic Pact of Harran. Two great fleets set sail from Tyre and Thloryn, headed for Egyptian Enkomi. There, a detachment of the Great Fleet was utterly thrashed by the allies. As they prepared to head south, however, news came of Woet’s fall. Novaricum and Utica’s fleets are on their way.
And so, as the King of Egypt was concluding a (temporary, he thought) vassalization agreement with a restored Kingdom of Kush, the great Fleet of Egypt was lured out of their Deltan docks to clash with their foes. The Monoremes overran many a curragh, but the new Katanic Longboats prove quite sturdy, if not sturdy enough, against their rams. The Dorian tribesman attacked desparately as the Katanic experimented with ship-bourne stone throwers against the massive beasts. But in the end, the Egyptian barges saved the day. Massive reinforced warships overcrowded with archers and warriors, the mere weight of arrows can sink many a curragh. With these reinforcements, many captured Monoremes were recaptured as a swarm of spears simply shoved the Dorian tribesmen and Tyrian marines into the sea. Beaten, back the Pact fleet fled to Tyre.
And so begun a naval war of cat and mouse as the old King laboriously brought his army back north. Battle after battle was fought, the size and open seas allowing for retreat after retreat. The Novaricum and Utican fleet was overwhelmed by nearly a hundred curraghs, barely escaping as the Fallen Sea Fleet arrived to reinforce the Katanic Garrison. Meanwhile, as one Tyrian curragh after another was swatted asside, the main Pact “Invasion Fleet” retraced the route home, pursued by their Egyptian Counterparts with a vengenace.
Finally, under the watchful eyes of Sanitorini, the great fleets crashed in full once more. This time, the Longboats are reinforced by the Doussan Altyrians. These highly advanced ships are indeed smaller than monoremes, but they are more maneuverable, faster, stronger, and even cheaper than their oversized egyptian counterparts. But it was too little too late. The monoremes chewed through the center of the desparate Pact battleline while Novaricum Raiders and Wolfships nipped the flanks. As the Doussan flagship grappled with the Admiral’s War Barge, itself disabled by a stone thrower, it seemed the battle was in balance. But then the flagship bucked and sank, crushed by a barge pushing on the otherside. And the pact fleet fled into theri various ports.
The sea belonged to Egypt. For now. It was 15 since the start of the war.
In the meanwhile, Acre fell to Egypt and many battles were fought between the nomadic allies of Bedouin. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Nasharu has gathered a mighty army in Damascus. Charioteers from Mazderah and Medea, experienced and skilled with the art of the cart. Foot soldiers from Alamhadat and Ortun, ten thousand strong. Scouts and Archers from Doussa, and Exnotic Knights from Kosa itself. Another tenthousand Bedouin and Semetic tribesmen joined them. And this is not even counting the countless thousands of troops trained throughout the empire proper.
This new army, in addition to his Father’s Army, and the Katanic Army, and the Administrator’s army, will surely spell the end of the decadent Egyptians.
But the League, although by then officially merged whole with Hyak, was not well. Both Ugarit and Byblos bubbled with resentment. Hyakkid agents incited a Byblon conspiracy to act early, to be massacred. They were less successful in Ugarit, where the locals threw out the Administrator’s garrison and locked the walls. Knowing how green his men is, the Administrator pulled his army out and besieged Ugarit itself, even as the growing Hyakkid army, bolstered by allies, besieged Acre.
But there seems to be a back way into Canaan other than along the Egyptian-dominated coast. He sent the Mazderah Prince and his chariots into the highlands and sandy plains of Golan to do battle with the Egyptians there. In two decisive battles, he humiliated the bedouin chief and the local Egyptian chariotry, and then drove south, deep into Canaan. Joined by Nasharu, the allies of Hyak crushed army after army, eventually taking the entire interior of Canaan less than five years after Santinorini.
By then, the Egyptians at Acre themselves held two armies. One was the Kuhorsehockye Veterans, marched from their southern front and now holding the town. Another was the twenty five thousand levies and ten thousand soldiers the Egyptians rose to reinforce their position. With the fall of Jerusalem and even more Hyakkid troops sent to secure the highlands, they saw an opportunity to make an example.
Smashing into the Hyakkid siege works, the battle of Acre was the first true set piece land battle of the war. Levies guarded thousands of Egyptian archers as they rained death upon the Hyakkids. Ox chariots trample dozens before their enraged animals are killed. Spearmen stood up to charge after charge while the dreaded Qarabu sliced their way into the heart of the Egyptian Army. The young King Optikoron was amazed. Nearly his entire army against barely ⅔ of Hyak’s, not even counting the Administrators, or Allies, or Katan’s. And... was he... was he... LOSING? He quickly pulled his force into Acre, where they shared various supplies and plotted their next moves.
He was distraught. It was true that Katan is now preoccupied with rebellion in Apulia. It was also true his army was hurt, although not as badly as he first thought. Worse, even supplied by sea, Acre cannot support the amount of men currently behind its walls.
He made up his mind after weeks of thought, and even while Hyak’s allies moved closer and closer to Timnia, it seemed the Egyptians were content eating their way through Acre’s dwindling granary.
Then came the news. The Administrator’s Army has been crushed by an Egyptian sortie out of Ugarit and Byblos. The stone throwers assigned there were captured, to the chagrin of the Katanic Prince overseeing that operation.
Just like that, the Egyptians were gone, their efficient fleet taking them Takarzi knows where. Nasharu begins a hopeful assault on Acre, but the Egyptian reinforcements arrived just in time. No, he must stay inland. Already the copper mines of Timia has fallen, and his Bedouins are defeating the Sinai tribes one by one.
The year was 30 after the start of the War, when news came that an Egyptian army is assembling in Hormun.
And now we must come to whole other theater of the war. Bekke, having paid 10 EP of desert loot for exclusive control over egyptian trade, found that their lack of a fleet is... quite lacking in defending Egyptian trade routes. Quickly building a fleet, they found they weren’t quick enough. Caves and cliffs along the Bekken coasts became home to corsairs and pirates of every stripe.
Dakinsa too, was suspicious and begun attacking raiders themselves, using their long boats to good effect. This helped Egyptian trade somewhat, as the smaller powers were able to police their fleets much easier than the greater powers could.
But Dakinsa was on a warpath elsewhere. The Raj dragged his yowling, contentious nation into a great war against the Aryan Empire. The great treasury emptied from Dakinsa poured into massive armies of men. It was this massive fist that crushed the Aryan rabble and liberated Daretokimas. And it was this massive fist that plunged again and again into the corpse of what was once the realm of the Iron Crown.
It was a flash as the great Egyptian fleet sailed around the great expense of the Bekken peninsula, emptying markets of food as they turned north, and followed by great, undefended supplies and barges.
The raiders had a field day, and attacked Dakinsa once more. Incense, the now wardrunk Rajdom slashed out, and managed to find a Gujarati official in an compromising position with several of the prominent Corsairs of the Khandic seas.
Angrily, they blockaded their former friend. But even as Egypt marched into Bekke, Hormun and Gujarat marched into Dakinsa proper. All Khand convulsed as the old Rajdom collapsed. Colonies declared independent and fought for supremacy. The Atanka declared independence even as the Daretokimas campaign collapsed upon itself.
And everywhere, the Aryans advanced.
But this backdrop does not seem to affect the Egyptian General as he chopped off the head of the old Bekken lord, who has handed his Kingship to his son-in-law, the new High King. Except that without the diligent longboats and great fields of Dakinsa providing for his army, his men are starving. Worse still, the Hyakkid forces are marching faster than he expected, marching towards him.
But it seemed that the dead King’s manuvering has worked. The King of Ortun raised armies, but did not march against him as he levied Bedouin and Aramyan to suppliment his forces. But yet, his desired news had not yet come.
When it did, it was dissapointing. The King of Alamhadat closed the city and sacked the great Palace of the High King, and exculted in his victory... until his own guards stabbed him in the back. They know the penalty of betraying the Avatar of the Bloody hand, and so served justice where it is due.
The scions of the last, unnamed King of Alamhadat scattered across central Hyakkia, destroying and fighting, trying to make for Egypt’s lines, where they can fall under their protection. It was then, even as Egypt made its way north, that the King of Ortun finally moved. Crushing rebellious prince after Prince, he cleared the way for the new High King of Hyak, the young Nasharu-Sar, to be coronated on his blood-stained throne, even as many of the line of Sarrukan-Sar and other great kings are buried, killed by the unnamed King’s treachury.
Egypt has sailed and marched far, but in the end they could not face Hyak. Their forces were crushed and battered, and tossed into the waters of Danu. Bekke was freed, and the rebellious Aramyan cities were once more put to the sword.
Even then, the weakened fleet in Egypt Proper, abandoned by their Novaricum and Utican “Allies”, faced a resurgent fleet from Katan, and this time, the Fallen Sea has triumphed over their Long Sea foes. Damietta falls into an orgy of conquest and destruction as Acre surrendered and the Sinai collapsed. The Pact forces stood on the edge of Anor itself, as a new untested Egyptian King and his levies stood.
But at what cost?
Mediolanum’s rebellion in Epirus and Apulia cost many Katanic lives. Although Epirus is “pacified” and Apulia now under Katanic siege, the alluring song of the Melody spread faster than the Keepers of the Codex can denounce it.
Too, the High prince of Trezibond and the Dukes of Altyria attempted to rebel after the failure of the first Fallen Sea Fleet and the death of the finally reinstated wheat trade. Although loot now flows back into Kosa and beyond, and the might of the High King of War has never been less accused, an undercurrent of discontent has returned to Princes supporting him.
Utica and Novaricum have gained the Thloryn Islands and the colonies of the League, and established a short ceasefire as the rejuvinated Fallen Sea Fleet sailed once more. Will the Pact now turn their eyes upon them once they “finish off” Egypt proper? And what of the spreading Melody of Ziril and Exnot and the loss of their trade?
Hyak has annexed the League, but its trade, its fleet, and its people are all ruined. Smoke hangs above each Levantine city as corpses of rebels are burned. Even as they destroyed Egypt’s homeland, their own is not unscarred. The great Irrigation Works of Bekke are destroyed in spite by the fleeing Egyptians. The Unnamed King has killed most of the the High King’s bloodline.
Mazderah gained great prestige in battle, but so few men return from the war, and so many are called again and yet again to the front.
Varna is on the verge of collapse. Even after their great celebration and return of the Danubian Expedition, the Melody spreads relentlessly, and the Altyrians agitate for freedom and empire.
Bekke is ruined too. Their treasures spent, their fleets captured, their honor lost.
Even Axum paid heavily for this war. Trade was effectively stabbed in the heart as Dakinsa collapsed and raiders encroach upon their own merchants. Several of their own colonies are sacked by the Corsairs of the Khandic sea. The success of their mercenaries and the growth of their mining and farming wealth seemed to pale as their traditional source of wealth all but disappeared.
And Dakinsa... the last of the First Nations. Gone, entirely gone. Their colonies have rebelled from their costly war, and now fight for supremacy all across the Khandic sea. Their capital is occupied by their former friends on Gujarat. Their generals fight among their Ayran mercenaries, even as tribe after tribe begun moving into the great river valley itself.
But it is with all wars. The scale was, prehaps, greater than anyone has expected. But the outcome would have been the same regardless. There were great risks and great rewards, and all nations have received great shares of both pies.
OOC:
@ Lord of Elves and Eltain; I am just very very very very very bored with “civilization fights barbarians” thing and both of you have a decent enough reason they won’t fight. So they didn’t. Unfortunately, this is quite a significant land grab and much of it is undeveloped. For Lord of Elves, that also goes for much of Buggerite land you are annexing, although not so much the reconquered places.
@ People Who Finished Killing Buggerites
You all have somewhere between 30-60% of your population as Buggerite/Teut/Ostavan or other recently assimilated barbarians.
@Spaceman: Training corrected automatically. 10 ships=1 unit. Excess banked.
@Mayor and Bonefang: You are nearing the max of current trade routes.
Terrance888
Discord Reigns
I am so god aweful tired. Stats, diplo, and map tomorrow.
Most of the stats north of Keltia on the update are correct from the last post. I still need to stat out the second half of the Great levantine I don't care any more.
Preliminary map posted. Curdesy of Luckymoose.
Most of the stats north of Keltia on the update are correct from the last post. I still need to stat out the second half of the Great levantine I don't care any more.
Spoiler :
Preliminary map posted. Curdesy of Luckymoose.
I am Nasharu, son of Sharkali, son of Nabash, son of Kargash, son of Curugan, son of Nirnur, son of Durgal, son of Sarrukan, son of Naran, son of Baragan! Behold me, Nasharu-sar, for I and I alone am the Avatar of the Bloody-Handed King of Heaven, Mighty Takarzi!
Look, my foes, upon the ruination wrought upon you. Know that I strike with the will of the King of the Gods himself guiding my hands. Know that there can be no victory against Hyak the invincible!
Lo, my allies, be heartened, for though war brings suffering to all, it also brings us victory, wealth prosperity and greatness that shall enrich our descendants for centuries to come.
Weep, betrayers, for your existence is made unto nothingness. None shall weep for you, none shall know thy name, and thy children shall rule naught!
Know all that I, Nasharu-sar, crowned over a bloody throne, am the heir to greatness, and that this greatness shall be carried on through my deeds. Know the lineage of the Baraganid Dynasty!
First came Baragan. The Mercenary became a King. The King became the High-King. Laren, Khurzel and Hazerel joined him, and both Old Aramya and Forman Siria fell into ruin.
Second came Naran, who brought Boukae into the fold and established Hyak. Under his watch, Hyak became unquestionable dominant power of Levea.
Sarrukan, the third High-King, followed the dying wishes of his father and strove to outdo all before him by conquering Heaven itself, and establishing the Great Doctrine that would define the High-Kingdom for centuries to come.
Fourth was Durgal, who drove Teir Aram into the Fallen Sea, ending the last man of Levea who would questions the authority of the High-King.
High-King the Fifth was Nirnur. He reached to the east, and struck an alliance with the desert wind, and Great Cyrus of Medea as his ally, he brought ruination to Viria, who had dared to raise its head in defiance of the Peace of Hyak.
Sixth came Kargash, the Scholar, the Warrior. With the glowing hand of wisdom, he brought order to the conquests of his forefathers. With the bloody hand of war, he drove north to Tamattu, and east to Zagartu, bringing these myriad realms under the aegis of the High-King.
Seventh in the line of Baragan was Nabash. The child of the blood of both Hyak and Medea, Nabash drew together the three great Kingdoms of Levea, and strove ever-further into the northeast.
Eighth came Sharkali. Possessed of a vision of the unity of Levea, Sharkali took a bride of Boukae, whose blood flows now through mine own veins. The hand of Sharkali reached into the west, upholding the Oath of Naran and the Doctrine of Sarrukan. With all the powers of the Avatar, Sharkali drew unto him each great nation of Takarzi, and with blood and arms he defended the Levant, and brought ruination upon Musuru, the Kingdom of the Denier.
I am the ninth. I am the three of threes. I am Nasharu-sar. Let my voice bring heart and bravery to my allies. Let my voice bring terror to my enemies.
Your war has failed, Musuru-on-the-Nile. Your petty kingdom shall be wiped from history, your once-great lands shall be naught but the southern march of Hyak. Bow down before me, and I may yet find forgiveness for your descendants. Fight on, and I shall bring such miseries upon you that your gods themselves shall tremble.
Look, my foes, upon the ruination wrought upon you. Know that I strike with the will of the King of the Gods himself guiding my hands. Know that there can be no victory against Hyak the invincible!
Lo, my allies, be heartened, for though war brings suffering to all, it also brings us victory, wealth prosperity and greatness that shall enrich our descendants for centuries to come.
Weep, betrayers, for your existence is made unto nothingness. None shall weep for you, none shall know thy name, and thy children shall rule naught!
Know all that I, Nasharu-sar, crowned over a bloody throne, am the heir to greatness, and that this greatness shall be carried on through my deeds. Know the lineage of the Baraganid Dynasty!
First came Baragan. The Mercenary became a King. The King became the High-King. Laren, Khurzel and Hazerel joined him, and both Old Aramya and Forman Siria fell into ruin.
Second came Naran, who brought Boukae into the fold and established Hyak. Under his watch, Hyak became unquestionable dominant power of Levea.
Sarrukan, the third High-King, followed the dying wishes of his father and strove to outdo all before him by conquering Heaven itself, and establishing the Great Doctrine that would define the High-Kingdom for centuries to come.
Fourth was Durgal, who drove Teir Aram into the Fallen Sea, ending the last man of Levea who would questions the authority of the High-King.
High-King the Fifth was Nirnur. He reached to the east, and struck an alliance with the desert wind, and Great Cyrus of Medea as his ally, he brought ruination to Viria, who had dared to raise its head in defiance of the Peace of Hyak.
Sixth came Kargash, the Scholar, the Warrior. With the glowing hand of wisdom, he brought order to the conquests of his forefathers. With the bloody hand of war, he drove north to Tamattu, and east to Zagartu, bringing these myriad realms under the aegis of the High-King.
Seventh in the line of Baragan was Nabash. The child of the blood of both Hyak and Medea, Nabash drew together the three great Kingdoms of Levea, and strove ever-further into the northeast.
Eighth came Sharkali. Possessed of a vision of the unity of Levea, Sharkali took a bride of Boukae, whose blood flows now through mine own veins. The hand of Sharkali reached into the west, upholding the Oath of Naran and the Doctrine of Sarrukan. With all the powers of the Avatar, Sharkali drew unto him each great nation of Takarzi, and with blood and arms he defended the Levant, and brought ruination upon Musuru, the Kingdom of the Denier.
I am the ninth. I am the three of threes. I am Nasharu-sar. Let my voice bring heart and bravery to my allies. Let my voice bring terror to my enemies.
Your war has failed, Musuru-on-the-Nile. Your petty kingdom shall be wiped from history, your once-great lands shall be naught but the southern march of Hyak. Bow down before me, and I may yet find forgiveness for your descendants. Fight on, and I shall bring such miseries upon you that your gods themselves shall tremble.
J.K. Stockholme
Right Opposition
To Shah Kazu of the Shahula
From the Kingdom of Suguda
We accept your overtures for a peaceful existence, and we respect your people's domain over the plains, so long as your chariot army serves the king of Suguda. The Council of Heaven welcomes you to civilization.
From the Kingdom of Suguda
We accept your overtures for a peaceful existence, and we respect your people's domain over the plains, so long as your chariot army serves the king of Suguda. The Council of Heaven welcomes you to civilization.
Terrance888
Discord Reigns
From Shah Kazu
To the Kingdom of Suguda
We thank you for respecting our offer. Our warriors shall present themselves officially (insert holiday here) with the best that we offer. (+3 Xiong Chariots, no upkeep, will grow by itself)
From Shah Gura
To the Kingdom of Suguda
You have made a grave mistake, harboring the likes of the pig Kazu behind your unmanly walls. Explain to me why I shouldn't rally my Shahula, and burn your pitiful attempt to defy the Turan to the ground.
To the Kingdom of Suguda
We thank you for respecting our offer. Our warriors shall present themselves officially (insert holiday here) with the best that we offer. (+3 Xiong Chariots, no upkeep, will grow by itself)
From Shah Gura
To the Kingdom of Suguda
You have made a grave mistake, harboring the likes of the pig Kazu behind your unmanly walls. Explain to me why I shouldn't rally my Shahula, and burn your pitiful attempt to defy the Turan to the ground.
J.K. Stockholme
Right Opposition
From the Kingdom of Suguda
To Shah Gura of the other Shahula
Early bird gets the worm, is a saying we have. Agility is a most favoured trait to chariot people like yourself. Wouldn't you say Kazu has beat you here fair and square?
In any case, we've no quarrel with your fine people, and in fact, the products of civilization are non-rivalrous, and your people can enjoy them too if you develop a settlement to trade at. So wasting your blood on the shores of our muscular and handsome walls would be, counterproductive, to expanding your Turan influence across Asmara. We've the power of the forge to make spears to beat anything your warriors handle, after all.
erez87
Lord of Random
from Egypt:
to Hyak and Katan:
Our armies have been destroyed and our power has been lost. The Avatar of Takarzi is the god of war upon this world. I, king Optikoron II admit my full a total defeat at your hands and beg only for mercy. Please do not destroy our ancient land, and allow me to become a vassal to the kingdom of Hyak. All I ask is that Egypt will retain its lands on the banks of the Nile.
to Hyak and Katan:
Our armies have been destroyed and our power has been lost. The Avatar of Takarzi is the god of war upon this world. I, king Optikoron II admit my full a total defeat at your hands and beg only for mercy. Please do not destroy our ancient land, and allow me to become a vassal to the kingdom of Hyak. All I ask is that Egypt will retain its lands on the banks of the Nile.
SouthernKing
crickety cricket
And out goes Daksina. Not with a whimper, but with a crash.
Terrence, I'll send you a PM later today.
Terrence, I'll send you a PM later today.
Lokki242
Emperor
To: The Kingdom of Leon
From: Wesreth Draka IV, Leader of the Draka Clan, Chief of Wesreth, High King of Ildaris
We humbly request that after Kaditz is eradicated you halt aggressive actions withing Paradise and focus your military efforts elsewhere. If you honor this, you can call Ildaris an ally in any defensive warfare.
From: Wesreth Draka IV, Leader of the Draka Clan, Chief of Wesreth, High King of Ildaris
We humbly request that after Kaditz is eradicated you halt aggressive actions withing Paradise and focus your military efforts elsewhere. If you honor this, you can call Ildaris an ally in any defensive warfare.
SamSniped
DJ Goodboye
To Wesreth Draka IV, Leader of the Draka Clan, Chief of Wesreth, High King of Ildaris
From Emilio de Calliaro I, King of Leon, Hegemon of the Triple Crown, Titan of the Valyrian Seas, Descendant of the Valyrians, and son of the former King Carles de Calliaro III, of the same titles
Of course. As my grandfather surely expressed to you, we are simply aiding an ally. Following the conquest of Kadiz, we plan on turning our attention to the south and east, to finish expansion in Nueva Valyria and to begin colonizing Africia.
From Emilio de Calliaro I, King of Leon, Hegemon of the Triple Crown, Titan of the Valyrian Seas, Descendant of the Valyrians, and son of the former King Carles de Calliaro III, of the same titles
Of course. As my grandfather surely expressed to you, we are simply aiding an ally. Following the conquest of Kadiz, we plan on turning our attention to the south and east, to finish expansion in Nueva Valyria and to begin colonizing Africia.
