A Tryst with Destiny

With the death of King Emperor Srutunjaya, an embarrassing succession feud emerged among the sons of Srutunjaya. The kings of Indraprasth and Takshashila favored the young prince Kshemya but the janapad of Kashi favored the much older Lord Suchi. However, a timely intervention by a brahmin by the name of Rishi Vyasa prevented a civil war from boiling over. The future of Magadh would be in the hands of Prince Suchi, now King emperor of Magadh and overlord of Bharat. His kin would act as governors of the three provinces that compose the empire of Magadh.

King Srutunjaya's legacy was carried on by his successors.

The news of his death had reached the ear of the emperor of China whose emissary reached the court of Pataliputra with a message of condolence. There he saw how Bharata had prospered since the meet with the first Shang emperor. The Chinese now realized that the people of Bharata (or 'Indians' as they and the rest of the world had come to know us) were in every way equal to the Chinese. They now opened border with us.

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This brought in extra trade and greater prosperity as a new class of traders developed in Bharata from the caste of vaishyas. It also brought another queer discovery, a pass opened between Bharata and the lands beyond the himalayas. Hitherto, this remaned shrouded in mystery.

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King Suchi would oversee the completion of the rules and rituals of priesthood. This now permitted the building of places of worship and temples. The workers of Varanasi were put to work on building the first hindu temple in Bharata.

The same year, we heard rumors of a vast complex being built somewhere in the unknown world called the terracota army. In keeping with the decisions of King Srutunjaya king Suchi's and then his successor, Subrata pushed on with the research of Horseback Riding. This would help us discipline the wild elephants and recruit horse riders..... once we get the horses beyond Gandhar.

The Indian mahajanapadas had started to become wealthy, and this attracted many a fortune seeking soldier. Mercenaries were ready to offer their services to the army of Bharata. These mercenaries were armed with bronze armour, axes and spears. Far better than the club wielding warriors we possessed now.

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However, unless we require war, the king deemed these mercenaries redundant. The mahajanapadas were enjoying a period of peace and plenty through the ages. More money could now be channeled to researching technologies.

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.. And in this gilded period of our history, a fantastic news came to our ears. The explorer who was uncovering new lands in the West beyond the Greeks, found a tribe along a wide river who had learnt the secrets of higher forms of art. They taught this to our explorer. Enlightened with this new knowledge, a member of his team returned to Bharata with a blue eyed tribal boy from this village. He taught our brahmans the secrets of Aesthetics. A flourish of art and culture would now come and we entered a new age.. the ancient past had given way to the classical age.

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... but more was left to be explored ....

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Many decades passed, and a new form of art flourished in India from the secrets of aesthetics. Vaishyas were making new paintings and brahmans were writing intricate scrolls and poems of the epics. Indian classical art was evolving..

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A new king sat on the throne, his name was Satyajit. In the three centuries between the reign of Srutunjaya and ascension of Satyajit, Bharata emerged strong and prosperous and became the world leader in the arts and sciences, outpacing China.

The new king continued the old king's policies of fluctuating the science rate fulfilling both the needs of treasury and science. All the while, improving Indian cities. Takshashila was training a second archer division while Dilli built a library and Varanasi continued building a temple. Settlers were leaving in small bands from the polluted byways of Pataliputra to go West and go to the promised land that King Srutunjaya had told of. Where the Ganga of the South, the Narmada empties into the Western Sea.

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It was at this time, when the people of Bharata basked in the glory of their advancement that they were reminded, there were other civilizations in the world capable of glory surpassing their own. The Great Sphynx, a massive statue of a great King formed in the shape of a lion had been built in another unknown part of the world. Many did not know whether to believe these fantastic fables or not, but what was known, is that no such wonders had been built in India for centuries. The crown prince had sworn to build a structure which would shine throughout the world as a mark of Hindu culture..

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In the meantime, explorations continued into Europe till a landmass was reached surrounded by water on four directions. Over here a fishing village was spotted where the villagers performed queer rituals. They imitated Kings and princes and gods in what they called 'dramas'. The plays had enthralled our explorers so much, they took the knowledge back with them to Takshashila. Over there our brahmans perfected this knowledge into a system of dramas, thus inventing a new art form. History will note, that Indians would write great works of drama in the coming ages.

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King Satyajit passed away, leaving the throne to his son, King Biswajit. Biswajit was known to be an ambitious man and he had in his hands more power than even the likes of Srutunjaya. The brahmins too had increased their power tenfold since the emergence of Srutunjaya and the first Brahminical council. Not all however, were pleased by this. Against the ritualistic practices of brahmins and the rigidity of caste oppression, a protest movement was gaining roots among the lower castes. Vaishyas in particular who had started to grow wealthy from trade and knowledge of the arts and sculpture were yearning for more recognition in society. The perfection of priesthood opened a new world of philosophy and learning among the bharatiya people. A new awakening was coming ....
 
May I say how good you are at writing all of this?

Also, with Biswajit as the new King, will we be expecting a battle with a nation anytime soon, or will he stay peaceful?
 
Thanks for that compliment :D. I do a bit of writing actually, its my hobby :) .

Right now there are no real enemies to fight, India is supreme not just in South Asia but in all lands between Babylon and China! Its the most extensive and powerful and cultured empire in this region. I do not intend on conquering that central Asian city its too far off, and I had already decreed no Western expansion which is not absolutely necessary in the council meeting. I don't think we'll be fighting anyone till the Mauryan empire emerges.
 
I agree. Just make it whoever wants to do it :D
 
Well the council and its decisions are to be kept for 80 turns. I've made an update with 40 turns. Basically two updates in one. I feel I should see at least one more update before calling a new council. The king is primarily frustrated that India is not building any wonders and other civilizations are outpacing us on this point. The citizens of Pataliputra also feel peeved that their city is outshone by the other janapadas especially the upstart Takshashila, while Varanasi is dissatisfied at Magadh's borders being expanded to cover all the floodplains of the Ganga leaving it with only one district to the East. Dilli/Indraprasth in the meanwhile has taken the rice fields away from Varanasi. The new king sympathizes with the ideals of the protest movement that is emerging. Though in general the populace is happy, even the oppressed Shudras, as long as the forced labor is not frequently resorted to. No king since Srutunjaya has resorted to forced labor.
 
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At the time of when King Satyajit lay dying on his bed, the Indian mahajanapadas had reached a new pinnacle of learning and culture. But the crown prince Biswajit would not be satisfied even with this. It was said by the Greeks that of all the nations of the world, India was the finest. But Biswajit was not satisfied. The King's councillors would oversee the development of the projects undertaken by Srutunjaya, but work was slow. Culture was developing but had not yet developed.

Despite the new art forms, the Western traveller St. Augustine saw it fit to give India an ignominious fourth position, above only that of the backward Greeks!

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King Biswajit upon ascending the throne travelled to the various janapadas of Bharata. He oversaw the condition of each city and found that every one of them was more populous and prosperous than Magadh. The proud son of Magadh did not like this.

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He travelled to the Western janapadas and rested there for a fortnight. Over there he found reports which would give him sleepless night. The so-called elamite tribes in Persia are grouping together. The King thought to himself, "Something sinister is brewing in the West. We must either face it or be swept away by it". The next week he went back to Magadh and made an announcement which startled the brahmins of Bharata.

"Decades have passed since we embarked on the path set by the first King's council. Today while our empire may stand tall, it does not stand the tallest ! The citizens of Pataliputra are leaving for exploring lands on infertile fields and fish the seas where there is nothing to fish ! The grand city which should have been the jewel of our empire languishes in backwardness while the other janapadas prosper ! All the while, our supposedly great military wanes while threats emerge from the West. The war mongering tribes of Persia are gathering, and the time for peace may end. For these reasons, I find the need to establish a new Council and dismiss the old" .
 
Well played Biswajit, well played.
 
By order of King Biswajit, first of his name, King of Magadh and Overlord of Bharat, A new council has been called.

In his infinite wisdom the King has declared that this new council shall not be a monopoly of the brahmin, and all may enter and take a seat in the King's council those whom are willing to take up the task.

The Council shall now be composed of a maximum of 7 seats with a minimum of 2 seats for the council. All powers of the council shall remain as before. The structure shall remain as before.

1) The chief function of the King's council is to advice the king on matters of administration and policy. e.g changing civic options ( except government and labor ), deciding whether to expand territory or grant independence, whether to wage war or make peace, what wonders to build and where.

2) The King's council would only formulate proposals for the king, but it would be at his discretion how they would be implemented.

3) The Council would be a temporary body but which would last for 80 turns. However, If the king is dissatisfied with the council he may create a new council by dissolving the old one.

4) There is no compulsory retirement for councillors, if no new councillor comes forward to be part of the King's council, the old members or their heirs would continue their office.

5) The king may enlarge or decrease the powers of the council at his will.

With this, the king declares the admissions for the Council open !
 
New rules for applications for King's Council :

1) Unlike earlier, any player may apply as long as they have played the RFC mod.

2) No qualifications needed for entry into the council. If the 7 seats are filled the council will be formed. Or if 48 hours ends, whichever comes earlier.
 
I might as well apply.

I'm currently in the midst of playing two games of RFC DoC, India and England, and I am playing as Egypt in vanilla RFC

I'll totally be the most important advisor

Sent from my VS870 4G using Tapatalk
 
I want to apply for a seat on your council your highness.
 
I too wish to apply.
 
Hahaha I like the complex method for choosing council members :p Models the method used in Ethiopia :D
 
Can't wait :lol:
 
dang, looks like i have to re-apply

*begs and grovels to be back on the council*
 
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