From the History of Gujarat: Chronicles of Sultana Afia Mahmud Shah
To her bejeweled throne from kings of yore,
The people came, to her adore,
They bowed and plead their case to her
In hopes the royal heart to stir,
But once within the hallowed place
Just to gaze upon her lovely face
Was such a taste of shang-gri-la
All left in love with Afia Shah.
The young Sultana had studied recent history and knew she had to improve Gujarat if the nation was to survive the changing world. Good relations with her neighbors was important, especially the powerful Bengali to her east. She would spend her money wisely and in the best interests of the people and her reign.
She had been following the rule of Sher Shah Suri of Bengal closely and mourned his death in 1563. When his son Jakal Khan was crowned, taking the name Islam Shah, she sent her best regards to the young Prince. He seemed to be less warlike and conquering than his father. He was supportive of peaceful efforts, tolerant of all religions and even of lowering taxes on the peasants. Many of his reforms to curb corruption in the bureaucracy were similar to her own ideas about such matters, as was his efforts to expand overseas. If the rumors were true, the great Khmer had sent experts to teach the Bengali the magic of the Elephant Throne greatness.
Outcomes:
+TC in Somalia Gujarat (TC needs name)
+TC Patna Bengal
+TP SE Africa Bengal
Europe 1563
And so spring came with its renewed promise of planting and a return to something approaching order. At least that was the feeling until June when the French invaded the Rhineland with 32 divisions. And Muscovy annexed Livonia. Betrayal, paranoia and opportunism filled the minds of kings across Europe and talk of peace was abandoned by all.
The Brandenburg troops in Poland retreated west to replenish themselves at home; the Poles regrouped at Breslau prior to their fall offense across the Oder River. More money was scrounged, stolen or borrowed to raise new troops. Augustus Bellinus was particular desperate as his empire hung in the balance. There was little to stop the French and they swept north on the west bank of the Rhine bottling up Catholic defenders in castles and towns and then moving on. Pressure on Bavaria lessened as the order of St. Stephen shifted troops west to fight France and they breathed a sigh of relief.
Berlin rallied it citizens and called for all able bodied men to fight the oncoming Polish demons. Two great battles were fought in September 1563. The first was at Glogau on the Oder and the other just two days march north of Brandenburg castle itself. In both cases it was the newly raised Landsknecht that saved the Germans from destruction and stymied the cavalry weighted Polish offenses. In the north the Poles were so reduced that they turned back and completely and headed for Bremen and recuperation. At Glogau it was the Germans who fell back to Berlin and the Pole who licked their wounds and then advanced more cautiously towards Berlin. Once slowed, the approach of winter brought the campaign to a halt in Lower Lusatia. Spring would see the Poles in Berlin. The former Duke of Mosavia’s army had refitted itself, moved west along the Baltic and claimed Pomerania for Poland. The miserable dampness of the previous winter was replaced by snow and freezing winds from Sweden. Soldiers began to desert.
News from London 1564
Johann Brick brought other news to the Verner gathering. He had spent the last few years mostly in London. The war and persecution in Germany had brought many of area’s brightest and most influential thinkers to London. The influx of talent had enriched the city greatly. The support of the Netherlands was as strong as ever and English troops had helped bring what was left of the Spanish holdings under Dutch control. Spanish relief efforts that had sailed up the channel had been turned back on two occasions. The long expected invasion of Ireland finally launched in 1563 and for the most part was complete. Feuds among the Irish lords had kept them divided and weak. Antwerp had been named the new capital of the Dutch state and in a surprising step ambassadors were sent to open a dialogue with the Aztecs. He did not know if they had even survived the voyage let alone the results of any subsequent discussions.
Johann and Mathilda brought the group up-to-date on the news from France beyond it successes in Germany. Greece and France had agreed to the Accord of Nantes, a wide agreement that included a mutual assistance pact. In addition, Greece’s newly acquired TP in Vespuccica, Anastasia, was passed to France and renamed Nouvelle Grecia. Greek and Genoese settlers were given full status as citizens of the new French holding. A royal wedding between lesser heirs to the two thrones were wed with full pomp and ceremony in Orleans. Francois’ niece Eloise was joined with Andreas, the general and cousin of the King Konstantius in 1560. New governors were appointed to both Nova Roma and Nouvelle Espoir. Of surprise to everyone except Mathilda, King Chretien had quietly formed a small standing army of 10 divisions.
The French king had been busy. In 1560 he issued two edicts. The first spelled death to any captains or sailors seen by the crown as pirates and the second stripped any French knight of his land and titles if he joined the ranks of the Order of St. Stephen. Such traitors would be banned from France and lose any and all rights of citizenship. He used the Edict of Paris in 1562 to move all Jews into the Protestant areas of France and keep them out of Catholic lands. While disruptive, most Jews saw it as a step towards improvement.
Outcomes:
+1 culture Great Britain
+TC Dublin to Great Britain
Follow the Yellow Silk Road
It was an unusual and unexpected meeting. Oscar Brick had left Kaffa four years ago to travel the Silk Road and learn what he could of its mysteries. In July of 1564 he was in a place called Guangzhou on the South China Sea. He sat in what passed for a tavern along the quay with his companion and interpreter: Mei Ling. She was young and pretty and always attracted interesting locals. After more than a year together, her English was quite good and his Chinese improving. He understood more than he could speak. As they quietly watched the busy harbor, they conversed about their long trip to this corner of the Chinese world; a tall south Asian, probably a captain of some sort, approached and said a few words to Mei Ling. Oscar looked away, but listened intently. The tall stranger flirted with Mei, but subtly inquired about her pale, oddly dressed companion. Within a few minutes he had taken seat and introduced himself as Suon Sok, a Vietnamese trader unloading spices and ivory. Lively conversation ensued even if it was interrupted by frequent pauses filled with the high sing song melodies of Mei Ling’s translations. Over dinner the friendship was sealed and the talk continued. They parted long after midnight with an agreement to meet again for dinner the next day. And so it went for three more days. In the end Suon’s small merchant junk had to make the tide for his trip south, but he did introduce Oscar to one of his permanent agents in Guangzhou should he want to get in touch. In parting Suon offered Oscar Mei Ling’s weight in gold if he would sell her. Oscar politely declined.
For weeks after they parted, each man thought about what they had learned and knew they had gotten the better of the other. For Oscar Asia was a never-ending source of wonder. It was huge and complicated and mysterious. It was rich too. Much of what Suon Sok told him he didn’t really understand, but he added it to his journal none-the-less. He already had many pages on Chinese culture, trade, production and history, now he would add the news of the rebellions to the north and east. Then there were Suon’s stories of Japan. These people lived even further east on volcano strewn islands. They were a growing power. Their armies had just invaded Korea and their ships had crossed the great ocean and reached a far continent, even further away than the great Khmer had sailed.
But it was Khmer that held the most fascination for Oscar. They were mightier than even China and owned all the South Seas and even the Spice Islands. None could touch their majesty and greatness. Their ships were largest and most powerful in the entire world. Even the largest of the Portuguese galleons were, but minnows next to the Khmer war junks. The Elephant Throne was what Suon had called this empire of magnificence. It had been the Khmer that had defeated the Mughals in India, it had been the Khmer that had seen the towering peaks of the Inka and the vast empty reaches of Naizhouyu. The great junks of the Elephant Throne had even circled the earth and Khmer trading posts now could be found in Africa and Vespuccica. Or so he had heard. For a whole evening he had gone on and on about the glories of Khmer. Such tales were hard to believe, but it might be worth a trip, he thought, and then his return to Europe could be by sea. He would think on it.
Outcomes:
+VoD WNA & TP Japan
+Circumnavigation of the earth to Khmer
+VoD MED, NWE Khmer
+TPs WSA, WCA, ECA Khmer
-8 divs Japan
-22 divs Ming China
Travelers Notes:
Austria forms the Order of the Apostles of Christ that is open to all Christians. These mass levies will be called whenever the homeland is invaded by those foreign powers who wish ill to thte Archduke and his reign.
Kalmar settles a trading post south of Nova Roma and expands it other American holdings. The new TP Christinia cannot become a colony until next turn.
Portuguese colonies in the Congo, Madagascar and Mogadishu are all expanded.
Mali settles offshore islands but they are two small and isolated to be of any economic value (no TP, no colony; money banked.)
Safavid Persians occupy the mouths of the Volga.
With Chinese influence weakening, Khmer culture influences many of her neighbors to request assimilation.
Germany 1564
There was no spring campaign in 1564. Everyone wanted to put off the expected carnage as long as possible. So it wasn’t until June that the armies stirred and formed and steeled themselves to kill again. The Emperor rallied Catholics to his cause and prepared to defend the Rhine. France arrayed her strength with a bravado that that shouted “We have already won! Prepare to die.” Bavaria hoped to be ignored. The Poles in Bremen set hussars an Cossacks far and wide across northern Brandenburg to loot and pillage and terrorize. With few troops ready to take the field, Joachim Fredrick of Brandenburg prepared himself for the coming pogrom against German Protestants. Mikolaj Radziwill planned his siege of Berlin and anticipated the smell of roasting Protestants. And into this frenzy of self destruction one more player came. King Christian VI had waited to make his might felt. He landed 10 divisions at Danzig and two weeks later 10 more at Konigsberg. By the time Mikolaj heard the news he was just a few days from Berlin. The now entirely Catholic lands of Poland’s Baltic coast rose up in fear and all who could bear arms did so. It was mostly show and a bloody one at that, but it did slow the advance of Kalmar troops. As word of Kalmar attack Brandenburg took heart as did Bavaria. The French attacked as did every other armed force in Germany. After four years of bloodshed, no quarter was asked and none given. For the Knights of St. Stephen Protestant retribution was particularly harsh. Whenever a few knights were caught or captured, they were usually turned over to the locals who dispatched them to some private hell with passion and complete disregard for mercy or Christian charity.
Outcomes:
See map
-5 sqds Poland
-1 sqd Kalmar
-1,350 Knights
-5 divs Poland
Austria and the East 1564
The changing European order rippled east. Muscovy pushed east and south snipping off bits of the fast failing Khanate of Khazan. Her Crimea coast would soon reach the eastern edges of the Black Sea itself. Perhaps with a little effort the Russian borders would soon be the Volga and the Caucasus’s mountains.
In Vienna in the fall of 1562 they mourned the heroic death of Ferdinand as he campaigned against the Turk. The first stories had him dying gloriously in battle outside of Adrianople. After the funeral and coronation of Maximillian as the new Archduke, word slowly spread that the old man had died of dysentery in a foul and putrid campsite a week’s march south of Belgrade. Maximillian was dismayed that the German wars had spilled over into Silesia which now was a patchwork of Brandenburg, Polish and Austrian held lands. To distract himself from the woes of Germany, the young leader visited Dalmatia to crown his son Rudolf its Prince. His route made use of the new stone “highways” that were part of his father’s last great work.
Where tropical breezes waft softly, the rum flows freely and the women are frisky!
Captain Morgan stepped outside; while the house was not small, he felt confined and preferred the miles of pink sand beach to the ornate interior. The Sons of Liberty had done well the last few years. They had recruited well and casualties had been few. Only one ship was lost and that was from the great hurricane of 1563 that swept across the Carib islands and into Genozuela Norte. A young captain had missed the signs and been caught to windward of the coast. There was nothing left to salvage.
Captain Morgan scrambled down the bluffs and walked the beach. Short of pacing a heaving deck, this was his most productive way to plan. His crews had pillaged 5 convoys since the last Captain’s meeting and added doubloons to their treasure trove of booty. With 10 ships and few new recruits on the horizon he would have to plan well. But the Aztec trade with Europe was growing and he was optimistic about keeping pace. His new captains were getting better and even with the loss of a ship, the narrow channels and hidden bays of the Carib Islands had proved profitable for his small fleet of rogues.
Outcomes:
+2,500 gold SoL
-1 ship SoL
-1 EP Aztecs
Genoa one Sunday Morning
At the absolute least one would have to say that Europe was startled, but more likely amazed and a bit terrified. Even Pietro Verner could not believe it and he saw it with his own eyes. Well “it” was not really an “it”, but rather five ships, but certainly they were more than ships. In July of 1563 the people of Genoa woke to see five ships that were unlike any they had ever seen before. The ships stretched from one side of the harbor to the other and blocked out everything beyond. They were not only huge, they were alien and unnatural and probably the work of the devil.
Every other ship in the harbor, even the largest merchantman was but a row boat next to these behemoths. Impossibly tall masts, row after row of great cannon, and crews enough to fill a large village were clearly seen from shore. People wondered what mysteries lay beneath the many decks. Some went early to church. Others could not tear themselves away and spent hours just looking at the great ships. Pietro was not so taken and immediately sought a small boat to take him out to the largest of vessels. He had heard the rumors before and would not miss such an opportunity to confirm them.
As Captain Adnan later wrote in his log, Genoa was just one of three stops his flotilla made in Europe: Genoa was first followed by Valencia, and Amsterdam. In each case the locals had been astonished and frightened. As he sailed up what was called the “English Channel” he evidently had entered into some kind of local conflict between warring factions of the Roman Empire. He thought he had been near a city called Rome some weeks before, and wished he had visited it when he had the chance. Perhaps his ships would have been of value to the emperor there. Whatever the state of war, none of the ships made any attempt to stop or even slow the Khmer ships. Most fled. It was quite clear what the outcome of any cannon fire would be.
In each port Captain Adnan made inquires and visited with local dignitaries. He never went ashore. Whoever it was, always visited him upon the deck of his ship. A few of the more curious and interesting he even permitted to walk the length of the great ship and peer into places they could not go. Conversation was difficult and it turned out Hebrew was the easiest language for talking since a few of his crew it was a second language and they could speak it quite well. Few of his guests, though, could, and they seemed reluctant or unable to find a speaker of the language on such short notice. One gentleman from Genoa, however, seemed to almost come prepared and had a Jew with him when he came aboard. They got along famously and Adnan was quite pleased to accept a small paper with the man’s name nicely printed across it. It made no sense since it was in an unknown alphabet, but he would keep it as a souvenir to show in court.
Captain Adnan’s grand tour of the world’s oceans ended safely a year later when he returned to Khmer with great ceremony, royal greetings and parties. Weeks were spent in conversation and dictation to record the wonders of the world and the strangeness of its peoples. Only one small incident was left out of the official records. In August of 1564, just a few weeks before arriving home, the voyagers hove to at the approach of a merchantmen a shortly out of Guangzhou. Adnan and the Vietnamese Captain hugged and laughed and spent a couple of hours eating and drinking on the poop deck. They were clearly friends and Adnan even showed off some of his souvenirs from the voyage. Several were of particular interest to the trader. By afternoon, they had parted and all aboard the great ships thought of home and family and the glory of the Emperor’s praise that was to come.
Enjoy!
To her bejeweled throne from kings of yore,
The people came, to her adore,
They bowed and plead their case to her
In hopes the royal heart to stir,
But once within the hallowed place
Just to gaze upon her lovely face
Was such a taste of shang-gri-la
All left in love with Afia Shah.
The young Sultana had studied recent history and knew she had to improve Gujarat if the nation was to survive the changing world. Good relations with her neighbors was important, especially the powerful Bengali to her east. She would spend her money wisely and in the best interests of the people and her reign.
She had been following the rule of Sher Shah Suri of Bengal closely and mourned his death in 1563. When his son Jakal Khan was crowned, taking the name Islam Shah, she sent her best regards to the young Prince. He seemed to be less warlike and conquering than his father. He was supportive of peaceful efforts, tolerant of all religions and even of lowering taxes on the peasants. Many of his reforms to curb corruption in the bureaucracy were similar to her own ideas about such matters, as was his efforts to expand overseas. If the rumors were true, the great Khmer had sent experts to teach the Bengali the magic of the Elephant Throne greatness.
Outcomes:
+TC in Somalia Gujarat (TC needs name)
+TC Patna Bengal
+TP SE Africa Bengal
Europe 1563
And so spring came with its renewed promise of planting and a return to something approaching order. At least that was the feeling until June when the French invaded the Rhineland with 32 divisions. And Muscovy annexed Livonia. Betrayal, paranoia and opportunism filled the minds of kings across Europe and talk of peace was abandoned by all.
The Brandenburg troops in Poland retreated west to replenish themselves at home; the Poles regrouped at Breslau prior to their fall offense across the Oder River. More money was scrounged, stolen or borrowed to raise new troops. Augustus Bellinus was particular desperate as his empire hung in the balance. There was little to stop the French and they swept north on the west bank of the Rhine bottling up Catholic defenders in castles and towns and then moving on. Pressure on Bavaria lessened as the order of St. Stephen shifted troops west to fight France and they breathed a sigh of relief.
Berlin rallied it citizens and called for all able bodied men to fight the oncoming Polish demons. Two great battles were fought in September 1563. The first was at Glogau on the Oder and the other just two days march north of Brandenburg castle itself. In both cases it was the newly raised Landsknecht that saved the Germans from destruction and stymied the cavalry weighted Polish offenses. In the north the Poles were so reduced that they turned back and completely and headed for Bremen and recuperation. At Glogau it was the Germans who fell back to Berlin and the Pole who licked their wounds and then advanced more cautiously towards Berlin. Once slowed, the approach of winter brought the campaign to a halt in Lower Lusatia. Spring would see the Poles in Berlin. The former Duke of Mosavia’s army had refitted itself, moved west along the Baltic and claimed Pomerania for Poland. The miserable dampness of the previous winter was replaced by snow and freezing winds from Sweden. Soldiers began to desert.
News from London 1564
Johann Brick brought other news to the Verner gathering. He had spent the last few years mostly in London. The war and persecution in Germany had brought many of area’s brightest and most influential thinkers to London. The influx of talent had enriched the city greatly. The support of the Netherlands was as strong as ever and English troops had helped bring what was left of the Spanish holdings under Dutch control. Spanish relief efforts that had sailed up the channel had been turned back on two occasions. The long expected invasion of Ireland finally launched in 1563 and for the most part was complete. Feuds among the Irish lords had kept them divided and weak. Antwerp had been named the new capital of the Dutch state and in a surprising step ambassadors were sent to open a dialogue with the Aztecs. He did not know if they had even survived the voyage let alone the results of any subsequent discussions.
Johann and Mathilda brought the group up-to-date on the news from France beyond it successes in Germany. Greece and France had agreed to the Accord of Nantes, a wide agreement that included a mutual assistance pact. In addition, Greece’s newly acquired TP in Vespuccica, Anastasia, was passed to France and renamed Nouvelle Grecia. Greek and Genoese settlers were given full status as citizens of the new French holding. A royal wedding between lesser heirs to the two thrones were wed with full pomp and ceremony in Orleans. Francois’ niece Eloise was joined with Andreas, the general and cousin of the King Konstantius in 1560. New governors were appointed to both Nova Roma and Nouvelle Espoir. Of surprise to everyone except Mathilda, King Chretien had quietly formed a small standing army of 10 divisions.
The French king had been busy. In 1560 he issued two edicts. The first spelled death to any captains or sailors seen by the crown as pirates and the second stripped any French knight of his land and titles if he joined the ranks of the Order of St. Stephen. Such traitors would be banned from France and lose any and all rights of citizenship. He used the Edict of Paris in 1562 to move all Jews into the Protestant areas of France and keep them out of Catholic lands. While disruptive, most Jews saw it as a step towards improvement.
Outcomes:
+1 culture Great Britain
+TC Dublin to Great Britain
Follow the Yellow Silk Road
It was an unusual and unexpected meeting. Oscar Brick had left Kaffa four years ago to travel the Silk Road and learn what he could of its mysteries. In July of 1564 he was in a place called Guangzhou on the South China Sea. He sat in what passed for a tavern along the quay with his companion and interpreter: Mei Ling. She was young and pretty and always attracted interesting locals. After more than a year together, her English was quite good and his Chinese improving. He understood more than he could speak. As they quietly watched the busy harbor, they conversed about their long trip to this corner of the Chinese world; a tall south Asian, probably a captain of some sort, approached and said a few words to Mei Ling. Oscar looked away, but listened intently. The tall stranger flirted with Mei, but subtly inquired about her pale, oddly dressed companion. Within a few minutes he had taken seat and introduced himself as Suon Sok, a Vietnamese trader unloading spices and ivory. Lively conversation ensued even if it was interrupted by frequent pauses filled with the high sing song melodies of Mei Ling’s translations. Over dinner the friendship was sealed and the talk continued. They parted long after midnight with an agreement to meet again for dinner the next day. And so it went for three more days. In the end Suon’s small merchant junk had to make the tide for his trip south, but he did introduce Oscar to one of his permanent agents in Guangzhou should he want to get in touch. In parting Suon offered Oscar Mei Ling’s weight in gold if he would sell her. Oscar politely declined.
For weeks after they parted, each man thought about what they had learned and knew they had gotten the better of the other. For Oscar Asia was a never-ending source of wonder. It was huge and complicated and mysterious. It was rich too. Much of what Suon Sok told him he didn’t really understand, but he added it to his journal none-the-less. He already had many pages on Chinese culture, trade, production and history, now he would add the news of the rebellions to the north and east. Then there were Suon’s stories of Japan. These people lived even further east on volcano strewn islands. They were a growing power. Their armies had just invaded Korea and their ships had crossed the great ocean and reached a far continent, even further away than the great Khmer had sailed.
But it was Khmer that held the most fascination for Oscar. They were mightier than even China and owned all the South Seas and even the Spice Islands. None could touch their majesty and greatness. Their ships were largest and most powerful in the entire world. Even the largest of the Portuguese galleons were, but minnows next to the Khmer war junks. The Elephant Throne was what Suon had called this empire of magnificence. It had been the Khmer that had defeated the Mughals in India, it had been the Khmer that had seen the towering peaks of the Inka and the vast empty reaches of Naizhouyu. The great junks of the Elephant Throne had even circled the earth and Khmer trading posts now could be found in Africa and Vespuccica. Or so he had heard. For a whole evening he had gone on and on about the glories of Khmer. Such tales were hard to believe, but it might be worth a trip, he thought, and then his return to Europe could be by sea. He would think on it.
Outcomes:
+VoD WNA & TP Japan
+Circumnavigation of the earth to Khmer
+VoD MED, NWE Khmer
+TPs WSA, WCA, ECA Khmer
-8 divs Japan
-22 divs Ming China
Travelers Notes:
Austria forms the Order of the Apostles of Christ that is open to all Christians. These mass levies will be called whenever the homeland is invaded by those foreign powers who wish ill to thte Archduke and his reign.
Kalmar settles a trading post south of Nova Roma and expands it other American holdings. The new TP Christinia cannot become a colony until next turn.
Portuguese colonies in the Congo, Madagascar and Mogadishu are all expanded.
Mali settles offshore islands but they are two small and isolated to be of any economic value (no TP, no colony; money banked.)
Safavid Persians occupy the mouths of the Volga.
With Chinese influence weakening, Khmer culture influences many of her neighbors to request assimilation.
Germany 1564
There was no spring campaign in 1564. Everyone wanted to put off the expected carnage as long as possible. So it wasn’t until June that the armies stirred and formed and steeled themselves to kill again. The Emperor rallied Catholics to his cause and prepared to defend the Rhine. France arrayed her strength with a bravado that that shouted “We have already won! Prepare to die.” Bavaria hoped to be ignored. The Poles in Bremen set hussars an Cossacks far and wide across northern Brandenburg to loot and pillage and terrorize. With few troops ready to take the field, Joachim Fredrick of Brandenburg prepared himself for the coming pogrom against German Protestants. Mikolaj Radziwill planned his siege of Berlin and anticipated the smell of roasting Protestants. And into this frenzy of self destruction one more player came. King Christian VI had waited to make his might felt. He landed 10 divisions at Danzig and two weeks later 10 more at Konigsberg. By the time Mikolaj heard the news he was just a few days from Berlin. The now entirely Catholic lands of Poland’s Baltic coast rose up in fear and all who could bear arms did so. It was mostly show and a bloody one at that, but it did slow the advance of Kalmar troops. As word of Kalmar attack Brandenburg took heart as did Bavaria. The French attacked as did every other armed force in Germany. After four years of bloodshed, no quarter was asked and none given. For the Knights of St. Stephen Protestant retribution was particularly harsh. Whenever a few knights were caught or captured, they were usually turned over to the locals who dispatched them to some private hell with passion and complete disregard for mercy or Christian charity.
Outcomes:
See map
-5 sqds Poland
-1 sqd Kalmar
-1,350 Knights
-5 divs Poland
Austria and the East 1564
The changing European order rippled east. Muscovy pushed east and south snipping off bits of the fast failing Khanate of Khazan. Her Crimea coast would soon reach the eastern edges of the Black Sea itself. Perhaps with a little effort the Russian borders would soon be the Volga and the Caucasus’s mountains.
In Vienna in the fall of 1562 they mourned the heroic death of Ferdinand as he campaigned against the Turk. The first stories had him dying gloriously in battle outside of Adrianople. After the funeral and coronation of Maximillian as the new Archduke, word slowly spread that the old man had died of dysentery in a foul and putrid campsite a week’s march south of Belgrade. Maximillian was dismayed that the German wars had spilled over into Silesia which now was a patchwork of Brandenburg, Polish and Austrian held lands. To distract himself from the woes of Germany, the young leader visited Dalmatia to crown his son Rudolf its Prince. His route made use of the new stone “highways” that were part of his father’s last great work.
Where tropical breezes waft softly, the rum flows freely and the women are frisky!
Captain Morgan stepped outside; while the house was not small, he felt confined and preferred the miles of pink sand beach to the ornate interior. The Sons of Liberty had done well the last few years. They had recruited well and casualties had been few. Only one ship was lost and that was from the great hurricane of 1563 that swept across the Carib islands and into Genozuela Norte. A young captain had missed the signs and been caught to windward of the coast. There was nothing left to salvage.
Captain Morgan scrambled down the bluffs and walked the beach. Short of pacing a heaving deck, this was his most productive way to plan. His crews had pillaged 5 convoys since the last Captain’s meeting and added doubloons to their treasure trove of booty. With 10 ships and few new recruits on the horizon he would have to plan well. But the Aztec trade with Europe was growing and he was optimistic about keeping pace. His new captains were getting better and even with the loss of a ship, the narrow channels and hidden bays of the Carib Islands had proved profitable for his small fleet of rogues.
Outcomes:
+2,500 gold SoL
-1 ship SoL
-1 EP Aztecs
Genoa one Sunday Morning
At the absolute least one would have to say that Europe was startled, but more likely amazed and a bit terrified. Even Pietro Verner could not believe it and he saw it with his own eyes. Well “it” was not really an “it”, but rather five ships, but certainly they were more than ships. In July of 1563 the people of Genoa woke to see five ships that were unlike any they had ever seen before. The ships stretched from one side of the harbor to the other and blocked out everything beyond. They were not only huge, they were alien and unnatural and probably the work of the devil.
Every other ship in the harbor, even the largest merchantman was but a row boat next to these behemoths. Impossibly tall masts, row after row of great cannon, and crews enough to fill a large village were clearly seen from shore. People wondered what mysteries lay beneath the many decks. Some went early to church. Others could not tear themselves away and spent hours just looking at the great ships. Pietro was not so taken and immediately sought a small boat to take him out to the largest of vessels. He had heard the rumors before and would not miss such an opportunity to confirm them.
As Captain Adnan later wrote in his log, Genoa was just one of three stops his flotilla made in Europe: Genoa was first followed by Valencia, and Amsterdam. In each case the locals had been astonished and frightened. As he sailed up what was called the “English Channel” he evidently had entered into some kind of local conflict between warring factions of the Roman Empire. He thought he had been near a city called Rome some weeks before, and wished he had visited it when he had the chance. Perhaps his ships would have been of value to the emperor there. Whatever the state of war, none of the ships made any attempt to stop or even slow the Khmer ships. Most fled. It was quite clear what the outcome of any cannon fire would be.
In each port Captain Adnan made inquires and visited with local dignitaries. He never went ashore. Whoever it was, always visited him upon the deck of his ship. A few of the more curious and interesting he even permitted to walk the length of the great ship and peer into places they could not go. Conversation was difficult and it turned out Hebrew was the easiest language for talking since a few of his crew it was a second language and they could speak it quite well. Few of his guests, though, could, and they seemed reluctant or unable to find a speaker of the language on such short notice. One gentleman from Genoa, however, seemed to almost come prepared and had a Jew with him when he came aboard. They got along famously and Adnan was quite pleased to accept a small paper with the man’s name nicely printed across it. It made no sense since it was in an unknown alphabet, but he would keep it as a souvenir to show in court.
Captain Adnan’s grand tour of the world’s oceans ended safely a year later when he returned to Khmer with great ceremony, royal greetings and parties. Weeks were spent in conversation and dictation to record the wonders of the world and the strangeness of its peoples. Only one small incident was left out of the official records. In August of 1564, just a few weeks before arriving home, the voyagers hove to at the approach of a merchantmen a shortly out of Guangzhou. Adnan and the Vietnamese Captain hugged and laughed and spent a couple of hours eating and drinking on the poop deck. They were clearly friends and Adnan even showed off some of his souvenirs from the voyage. Several were of particular interest to the trader. By afternoon, they had parted and all aboard the great ships thought of home and family and the glory of the Emperor’s praise that was to come.
Enjoy!
The "YES! Oh, yes, yes, yes! Haha!" part 
Oh yeah *whines* HOW COME GUJARAT GETS A POEM? I WANT A NICE LONG POEM TOO *end/whine* That would have been really nice.
