Darkness II: The Prophet's Candle

"As I stepped into the Dawn, a thought struck me: Can there be friction where there is no substance? And can substance be tricked into hiding from itself?"
-Cryssia, Sadythian Poet; excerpt from the Poem "Of Gods"

King Ithaeur spent the remaining decades of his life fighting an internal battle against the foes within his court and kingdom, destroying those who would seek to undermine that which he had built. Apart from a few border skirmishes with Janja his foreign estanglements were minimal.

On his death, his Son took over. King Kais; sought to extend the power and domain of his Kingdom. And like the torch in the night, the attention of the King moved elsewhere, the dark shadows that had been constantly under attack by King Ithauer crept back. Although they lacked the infulence they once had, they still whispered advice that served their purposes.

King Kais greatest acheivement in this regard was the balancing the various cults via his expedition up the Euphrates, by absorbing the various Gods into one of the Cults, often where it was unclear King Kais Simply decreed that this new god was an aspect of the weakest Cult. Thus King Kasi expanded his realm; mollified the peoples that they worshipped the same gods, and balanced and in many places weakened the various cults as they tried to streamline and spread a singular version of the various gods they had been chosen to represent.

Whilst King Kais prospered, the other notable power within the Kingdom also grew strong, various nobility and powerfull warriors, rewarded with lands due to heroic deeds, or merely friendship with the King. But Time is the worlds greatest destroyer, and eventually these powerfull nobles would also seek to extend their power.

OOC: Ok I think thats all the notable power groups; King, Nobility and Religious Groups :p The Nobility hasn't really got off the ground yet, being still strongly tied to the King, but Give it a couple hundred years and we will see.

Writing about your weakeness gives you more to write about too :p
 
I'm missing orders from: Egpyt, Phoenicia, Meralis, Zhengzhou, and Sauvira. I'll wait for them till the morning ofr them, but otherwise I'll go on without them.
 
Did I send orders? Becuase I dont remember sending any... :confused:

Forgot to tell you, I am Byzantion.
 
Apoligies Germanicus. I thought i had yours but they;re not in my box.

Should my army not be of Weak rather than rabble status after the update?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I meant to answer this before but I forgot :}. Basically, your armies start off without a training level (as there has to be an intrest put in training before anything happens). As such, your quality went from none to rabble. If you guys want, I'll put (None) beside the troops to show that.
 
Allright the orders have been sent for the Byzantions. Hope we have a good update. :goodjob:
 
I'll put the background story from my orders here, makes more sense:)

Spoiler :
The people known as the Zajani used to live on the Euphrates, in a large city, farming like many others around, until their land was conquered, and they were subjugated. They were ruled mercilessly for many years. They grew restless. Then one day a tall man, riding a jet black horse, rode into the city. Some farmers had followed him, and now more people came to look. He pulled the white cloth from his face and revealed a rugged, yet handsome face. He spoke the only sentence they were ever to hear from him "Me and my horse would like some water." The water was brought, and he was offered a bed for the night. However he chose one that was already filled. He left without anyone knowing, some insisted that he hadn't ever come, but nine months later they had some undeniable proof. They called him Mijas.
His mother had died when he was twelve, during a random attack by soldiers. He grew up with the other famers but he was always considered different. And he didn't seem to care about the way they were treated. Whenever they asked him why, he just said "the desert wind blows".
The worst of the attacks came when he was just twenty. The soldiers decided they'd have some fun,as usual, but they went too far. The people fought back and more soldiers got involved. This time Mijas was stirred, finding the strange curved sword his father had left behind, he fought. It is unknown how many he killed, just that he killed many. Before the main force arrived he mounted a horse and called to the people. "The desert wind blows, follow me" and they did. Westward they went in a great long line, beyond the farms and into the desert.

For several years they traveled. The people grew used to the desert, learnt to respect it, were awed by it. It had the power to take life simply, and it had. But it also gave life. The oasis, were little havens in the harsh world. But the people found they grew strong as they traveled, hardened by the difficulties. Mijas told them how the desert was a living thing, almost a person and the wanderers started to leave offerings at the oasis they passed. This was the basis of their religion.
 
Sending orders!
 
maybe you forced us out but i doubt you'll have that much of an influence on us, it may be the other way around though;)

oh and heres a little flag I drew up
flag.jpg


the windblown palm tree will become more evident in the future, then there's the sword of Mijas, and the triangle at the bottom is a reminder of where they come from, the green fertile land corrupted with the blackness. And of course the gold is the desert.
 
"Some would ask, how could perfect Gods create a universe filled with so much that is evil. They have missed a greater conundrum: why would perfect Gods create a universe at all?"

"I hold a scrap of paper in the darkness and light it. I watch it burn bright and curl, disappearing into nothingness, and the heat burns my fingers. Where has it gone? What has it become? I cannot shake the feeling that I have witnessed a form of transcendence,"


-Allah, Sadythian Theologian, 1700BCE


Current Sadythian religious thought revolves around 3 main concepts.

1. Inheritance of the earth. The Saydithian peoples will flow out from their birthplace, and cover the earth. Like a liquid; they will seep into all cracks and all shall worship the Gods.

2. Reincarnation; until one has fullfilled the objectives the gods have given unto you. (Hence also, the idea of free will is present). Once completed you arise to the realm of the Gods, a blissfull place.

3. The eventual merging of earth with the realm of the gods once the Saydithian peoples have inheirted the earth proper, and the grand task of the peoples of Earth has been fullfilled.

However due to the nature of the Cults of Sadythi; there is much debate, and some bloodshed on the specifics of theology; Does the Earth have to be ruled by one state to fullfill the inheirtance (currently in favour of converting prior to a singular Monarch as the arguments present suggest that the states would join together regardless), are the requirements such that all peoples must worship the Saydithian gods, must they be of Saydithian descent? And so on; lastly there is also arguments for a monotheistic God, however the strength of this last idea waxes and wanes with the strength of the Cults (not wishing to lose power to rivals). And such a step could only be taken by the King breaking the cults power forever.


OOC: Planned civil wars :p
 
Decloak: *coughcoughSMACtechquoteripoffscoughcough*
 
EDIT: OOPS. nevermind
 


[[size=+2]Update One[/size]
Years 1900 B.C.E to 1500 B.C.E
“These times are a-changing”​

We begin our trip this time in the quieter end of the world, within the kingdom of Egypt. Under the pharaohs’ expansion policy, the Egyptians quickly move up the Nile, using a mixture of diplomacy and warfare.-while preferring to pay off the small rulers of the cities, the Egyptians weren’t averse to sending the troops. Egypt finally draws closer to the northern regions of the Nile, lastly capturing the town of Nmkia[1] in the year 1650 B.C.E. Under the pharaohs’ expansion policy, the Egyptians quickly move up the Nile. Thebes, the iron fist of the pharaoh’s rule, explodes in size and quickly becomes the chief city on the Nile., after the Egyptian conquest, grows in size also and becomes a beacon of trade in the Mediterranean.

Finally, Egypt- and the Nile- has become a path of trade between the lower cities and the Mediterranean world. Ivory, salts, and gold all wind their way up the Nile- depositing much of their wealth in the Egyptian lands. The pharaohs, under the guide of their wise men, pour their wealth into the population and, as a result, the Egyptians have the highest standard of living in the world.

Things, however, are not all good for the Egyptians- in fact; the Egyptians very closely avoid a disaster towards the end of the 16th century. The Zajani were once lords among the Euphrates, their capital a rich and luxurious city surrounded by miles of farmland. Their wealth, however, drew the attention of conquers and soon enough the people were forced out of their own homeland. The Zajani were ruled for many years under their conquers, forced to live their lives as rudimentary slaves.

The Zajani eventually rebelled against the conquers, led by a now-mythical figure named Mijas. Wieldy a curved bladed now common among his people, Mijas led his people in victory against a small garrison. The Zajani conquers, however, were not to be defeated that easily and easily marshaled a much larger army. Mijas, knowing victory would be impossible, called out to his people and they fled westward. The Zajani quickly grew used to the deserts that they rumbled through, growing symbiotic with the sands. The Zajani worship, faith placed in the personification of the desert, helped strengthen the people during their trials.

The Zajini skirted along the Israeli border, and made their way towards the rich plains of Egypt. The pharaoh Ramese II, having his fears confirmed from numerous fleeing tribes, quickly marshaled an army to prevent the Zajani from violating his lands. Mijas, leading his people from the front, confidently led his people into battle against the Egyptians near the city of Kman. Here, the first true battle occurred as the smaller, yet better trained Egyptian force, met the larger Zajani migration. The battle, referred to as Kman-Ad, ended up in an Egyptian victory- an extremely close one at that.

The Zajani, deflected from the rich provinces of Egypt, moved south under the continued leadership of Mijas. Eventually, around half of the population settled along the coast halfway down the peninsula. The other half, continuing under Mijas’s leadership, reached the end of the peninsula and founded their own city. Orat-Ma-Uhjas, the Zajani capital roughly meaning “Where the desert wind stopped blowning””, was founded under the leadership of Mijas and grew quickly in the oasis. The northern group of Zajani are, held in loyalty by very stretched ties.

(+Nmkia Trade Center, -1500 Egyptian infantry, -1000 Zajani infantry, -1000 Zajani )

Decay begins to take root in Meralis, with no clear leadership present to guide the island. Despite the strong naval history of the Meralisians, the raids against their enemies dry off and cease towards the end of the 17th century. The once-superior naval quality of the Merilasians disappears, and the island grows poorer as all the seafaring nations except for Selucia and Egypt refuse to trade with it.

Things grow worse for the Meralisians as towards their west another large kingdom is formed on the island of Crete. The kingdom, chiefly known as Minosians from the name of their king Minos, quickly took command of the island and soon enough began to raid Meralis, for an ironic twist of fate. Unless a strong leader takes command of the island, things look grim for the Meralisians. Relations with the Phoenicians have grown in recent decades, and a strong trade has grown between the two.

(-Naval Quality Meralis, - Government efficiency .)

The eastern coast of the Mediterranean quickly grows in terms of activity, as three new nations are formed near its shores. Located along the coast between Egypt and Phoenicia, Israel is more a mixture of the two than its own identity. Like the Egyptians, Isreal not only has a strong military history, but in addition has a rudimentary education system- reserved chiefly for its priests. Reminiscent of the Phoenicians, the Isrealis prefer trade to war through and freely welcome mechants of all nations- making Isreal quite popular in the Mediterranean world.

In addition, the nation of Selucia forms on the northern banks of the Mediterranean Sea. Based in the city of Antioch, the Selucians quickly send out envoys to their neighbors. In addition to their envoys, the Selucian king sent out a fleet of merchant ships under his own command. These ships, specialized in trading for maximum profit, quickly bring large amounts of wealth into the Selucian capital of Antioch. As of the moment, Selucia maintains most of their energies with bettering relations with the Phoenicians.

The last new state, Hatti, formed from the expansion of the king Muralis. Ruling over the city of Hattatus in the earl 16th century, the king was in a position of power among the chiefdoms of Anatolia. The Hittites quickly conquered a large region with their chariots, known to be among the fiercest troops in the world. A small border skirmish with the Selucians occurred, through peace was managed at the last moment to avoid war.

The remaining nation in the region, Phoenicia, entered the regional arena as the strongest power. Tyre was the richest city in the world at the time, trading with every nation and people throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Phoenician traders had gained the advantage in nearly every market, and hundreds of branches of the infamous Merchants Guild were located throughout the cities.

In addition to their wealth, the Phoenician navy underwent numerous changes. The navy was enlarged, and training was put into place for all of their ships. Many of the cities have instituted a naval guard, having a minority of ships watching for raids at all times. At the same time, the decadence of Meralis has given the Phoenicians a freehand in the Mediterrean and undisputed mastery of the sea. Taking advantage of this, the Phoenicians have explored farther than any other people and have been rumored to have established far off colonies.

(+Antioch Trade Center, +Phoenician Naval Quality, +1 Special economy Phoenicia- one turn)

An uneasy quiet hangs over the Middle kingdoms, as each prepares for invasions that do not occur. Byzantion plows ahead north, capturing dozens of cities as the army advances. Under the command of King Tronius, the Byzantians invested in an education system to better their people. In addition, a cuneiform writing system is developed and put into use under the rule of Tronius. The system quickly spreads through the region and becomes the standard of all official papers are now written in it. While a border guard is always present against the Sadythians, most of the army fights in the north and more lands than expected are taken. The legal system begun in Sadythi is eventually adopted in Byzantion, and the nation is divided into halves to ease the burden of ruling. A

Sadythi, as mentioned before, undertakes an experiment unknown in any other land. Adopting the Byzantian system, the king Kasi took precedence and wrote down the system of laws that governed his people. Crime is down all over Sadythi, and the kingdom has been divided in order to help govern the people. The king continues to juggle the various cults dwelling in the kingdom, playing them off each other. A small revolt against the king, when he declined to invade the Byzantians once more, occurred and was put down with an iron fist.

The final kingdom, Janja, begins to decay also as it is inherited by a number of weak kings. Finally, within the city of Sithis (Althis) the Merchant Guild operates. Facilitating trade through much of the world, the Guild operates numerous branches in nearly every nation that lies near the Crescent. Egypt, Israel, Phoenicia, Selucia, Hatti, Byzantion, Sadythi, Janja, and Harappa all have branches located in their lands.

(+1 province Byzantion, +1 government efficiency, -400 infantry, +1 province Sadythi, +1 government efficiency)

Harappa continues to grow in turn with the Middle kingdoms, wealth pouring into the state from the magnitude of trade. Harappa successfully convinces the other regional powers to cease their trade with Lothal and enforces a blockade, assisting in the growth of its own industries. The effect is minimal due to the fact that few traded with Lothal, but it still provides a boost to the Harappans. Harappa too goes under a political transformation, as their ‘king’ is elevated far above the other nobles of the land. Most of the powers granted to the guilds are taken away, but the power organizations still hold a few checks on the monarchy.

Despite the best efforts of the new monarchs, their faith is slow to catch on among the region. To the north, Vedism and the new state of Sauvira blocks their progress. The east is covered by Lothal, and the only true direction the faith can spread to is in the west. Despite this, the faith is having trouble catching on among the natives and is generally restricted to the costal communities.

Despite expanding onto the peninsula south, Lothal begins to decline in response to the blockade. Trade is completely removed from the rest of the region, and many Lothians are beginning to express their distaste in the current king. However, the military firmly remains in the king’s hands and any possible rebellion would have to have a foreign backing in order to achieve anything significant.

North of Harappa, Sauriva developed around Mohenjo-daro. Agriculture rules in the new kingdom and much of Harappa’s grains are imported from the agrarian north. In addition to the agriculture, the other main aspect of the Saurivian culture remains in their faith- Vedism. Whether the faith can survive against the Harappans is still up in the air. However, like many other states, Sauriva will need a strong king to lead it out of its dark times.

Far in the shadows of the Himalayas lies the small kingdom of Uttarakhand. These people resemble their lower neighbors in the fact that their faith is a major aspect of their lives. Their monarchy has recently become looser, with both the priests and the king trading off powers. Recently, the king forced the priestly orders to reveal those truths their faith holds and this has led to a dramatic growth of the faith in neighboring lands. People from neighboring villages are constantly making pilgrimages into the mountain shrines, leading to a small boost in the economy. In particular, the looms of the mountains produce fabrics widely prized and fetch outrageous prices throughout the lower hills of India.

(+1 Special economy Harappa- one turn, -1 economy Lothal- one turn, +1 special economy Uttarakhand)

The Zhou continued their development, implicating the most advanced education system in the world. The Imperial School, based in Zhengzhou, is required for all government officials and the bureaucracy continues to grow in large numbers. Overall, the lands around Zhengzhou explode in population and the area becomes one of the densest in the world. Under the command of their capable kings, the Zhou expanded easily through the region and established the largest state seen in the world yet. In addition, the Zhou has come upon the ocean.

Xi’an is overjoyed to hear that the mighty Zhou emperor wished for an alliance, and declares himself a vassal of the Zhou Dynasty. After this, he dedicates himself to honoring his great liege and furthers the Zhou cause in the east. The Zhou advancements filter into the small kingdom and Xi’an increasingly becomes dependent on their neighbors- to an insane point.

(+1 Life Quality Zhou)

On the fringes of the world, living in the political wastelands of the north, are the Mohe. A dozen or more tribes, the people fought constantly against each other for much of their existence. With the approaching cultures and the settling down habits of new civilizations, the Shaman (a highly respected religious communicator) received a prophetic vision the likes never seen before. In this vision, the Shaman saw a great expanse of white flying in front of his eyes. As the vision continued, the white expanses turned into a fertile land the likes unknown in their homeland. After this vision, the Shaman gathered his people and made north, seeking the white lands and the Winter Ocean.

It was north, among the natives of the White Lands, that the Shaman encountered those who sought his own cause. More people joined his movement and soon enough they reached a suitable place to cross the Ocean. The natives provided the necessary technology to cross, and the Mohe soon enough began to mass produce the simply boats used. Originally, the plan called for amounts of livestock to be carried with them, but by the time the Mohe reached the peninsula and were prepared for the trip, much of it had been slaughtered for food. The Shaman ensured the survival of the few remaining animals and the trip across began.

The trip across the Winter Ocean can be considered the harshest thing faced by the any people at this time. Masses amount of the ships capsized in the unstable waters, many peasants froze in the frigid temperatures, and diseases ran rampart on the trip. Finally, after days spent without the sight of land, the Mohe spotted a small series of islands running along the edge of the sea. They stopped on one of the larger islands and gathered their supplies. Finally, after a dozen or more years on the island, the remaining population moved south again.

After years of wandering, and months stuck in a frozen wasteland, the Mohe rejoiced as they came upon a true sight- a rich green grass on the ground. Slowly the frozen tundra receded and the land became more hospital, a virgin landscape waiting for development. Finally, after more years of wandering the new lands, the Shaman declared that his people had reached their new home. Naming the location Maka, the Mohe settled down and began new lives. Meanwhile, settlers have reported seeing glaring eyes in the recesses of the forests- the natives are clearly puzzled by these distinct explorers.

(-4000 Infantry, -2000 Peasents Mohe)

[1]Nmkia- Otherwise known as Alexandria.
 
Superb update! I did quite well :D
 
I like the update!

To: Most Noble King of Harappa
From: The Merchant Guild

We dearly hope that you are not infringing on our traders in your lands.
 
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