BirdNES 2: Forge of Empires -- The Manonash

JosefStalinator said:

Thanks for the map SS!

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You're very welcome!

The map made me realize something- for some reason, my people are pagan in the stats. While I did post a default faith for the sign-ups, I noticed it never appeared here. So rather than whine and complain, I'll just hum and ask a simple little question to two people: Jose and Lightfang, what exactly are your religions (if you don't mind me asking ?)

~Darkening~ said:

The map made me realize something- for some reason, my people are pagan in the stats. While I did post a default faith for the sign-ups, I noticed it never appeared here. So rather than whine and complain, I'll just hum and ask a simple little question to two people: Jose and Lightfang, what exactly are your religions (if you don't mind me asking ?)

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Maybe you should post it here or add it to your next orders.

Nah. I'll convert to something sooner or later. I won't even bastardize it this time!

my orders are in.

~Darkening~ said:

Nah. I'll convert to something sooner or later. I won't even bastardize it this time!

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You could always have the option to convert to Observationism.

The Lost Vale Part Two​

Theodoras awoke early in the morning, groaned and got dressed. The flashing of light reflecting caught his eye. Of course, he was being followed, of course Mandu wouldn't be intrested in such a simple supply convoy, of course it was something else.

But then what else could Theodoras do about it? Hope to the gods that Mandu was not throwing him to the wolves?

The Inn had provided a rather simple breakfast, the Inn keeper running around serving other patrons, even a few were drinking ale. Theodoras broke some bread open and began to pick at it. Another figure approached him, Theodoras looked up, a lean figure, not soft but hardened, looked down at him.

"Are you the Guide that Mandu sent?"
"Whos it to you?"
"Heh, no worries I'm the convoys guard captain, could I strongly advise buying some form of protection? Baltiers gang might have been caught but hes not the only bandit, others exist,"
Theodoras looked up at the man, he wonderd how much he knew, probably not enough, still he looked intelligent.
"If you go to the town barracks you can bribe the the quartermaster to sell you some swords or similar, Good day and I'll see you at noon,"

Theodoras turned toward the barkeep and shouted "Ale barkeep,"

The man hurried accross, the ale was noticably still green, Theodoras Blanched. "Say whats that man like, the convoy captain?"
"Oh Utha? Hes a decent man, dangerous to the wrong type of person but he knows how to handle trouble, why? Don't like him?"
"mhmmm, wheres the blacksmith in town, I need to get my knife fixed,"
"On the other side of the Square, by the north Gate,"
"Thanks," Theodoras downing the Ale "See you later,"

It was cold out, Theodoras could sense the seasons changing, winter was approaching, he headed off towards the centre, which contained a suprise for him. He looked at the preperations being made for the execution, it was all going to be very public, he smiled, He was a damn good bandit, he was also one of the last, the Heir apparant had been quite ruthless in rooting out problems in the settler regions.

The Blacksmith was a small place, Theodoras spent a few moment haggling over some axes, The blacksmith didn't really have a steady market of people wanting to purchase swords, Theodoras deceided to order one, and gave the Blacksmith sufficient Gold to buy the materials.

Theeodoras spent the rest of the day buying some minor supplies, all this cereal type of food, bread and fruit. He sighed, he missed fresh fish.

The inn as busy when he came back, three wagons and a small patrol of soldiers as a guard. The Guard captain Utha was shouting at his men, the wagon master was taking a lot more chummy approach to his dealings, or maybe that was just the great big beard and barrel of ale he had just loaded onto his wagon.

As they headed off into the mountains they passed the city centre where a large crowd had gathered and the unlucky replacement for his was being dragged up towards the podium....




The Mountains were a cold place, especially this close to winter, Theodoras guided them through the safest passes. A very loose description of which was the passes least likly to be ambushed totally blindsided. This of course did not stop ambushes and other bandits to attempt to stop them.

Theodoras had just scouted out the position of a small bandit group, and he was returning back to the convoy with all due haste, he needed to discuss what to do. The convoy was moving slowly, although they were almost at the settlement and it would almost be certain that they could reach their before the night, assuming that they weren't killed by these bandits.

"Ho, we have a small problem a few score bandits lay to the north, and seeing as theres no way round them we'll need to fight them, Utha what say you?"
"My men are ready, is there any way we can come around them and pay their intended ambuscade in kind?"
"A small gulley leads to a route around them it may be possible to take 2 or three men that way,"
The wagonmaster looked at them, "We can act as bait, we are not completely helpless, especially with this warning," He then disappeared talking to his men, a few of which went around collecting roundish stones, say what you will about the sling, but its light ammo is plentifull and you can hunt small animals for food. And if you;ve used it enough you can place the stone inbetween the eyes of a man and thats usually enough to crush his skull.
Utha looked at him "Ok, me, you and my man Thomas here will go into the Gulley," Utha drew closer to Theodoras ast they were moving down towards the gulley "How did you find this place anyway?"
"Luck I guess" Theodoras wasn't quite up to the point of revealing that this was one of his favourite spots to ambush, it could get difficult. Still the bandits in front of him had just moved in, and Theodoras also felt...anger... at being outed so easily.


They sat in position waiting for the bandit to start charging towards the convoy, they didn't wait long. The Bandits charged down onto the convoy, Theodoras, Utha and Thomas burst out on their side, and the wagoneers produced a hail of stones and other assorted 'implements'. Theodoras could see why taking a town could be intimidating. A variety of tools, scythes, hooks and butchers knives were assorted against the bandits. They looked more intimidating than one might think, especially when one considered the effects of say a meathook on ones own body.

The fight was short, unfortuantly Utha died, as well as 3 wagoneers some of the bandits fled, a few were caught, there was a small bounty on a bandits head which made is profitable at times to feed them. Theodoras quickly searched his body, he was sure that this was Mandus man, unfortuantly there was nothing on him, a small purse, and a few personal effects, and a strangly ornate ring. It was different from Mandu's but it was obvious what its purpose was for, identification.

The rest of the journey, apart from mourning was short and peacefull. And when the reached the vale Theodoras caught the Wagonmaster surripticiously passing the mayor a vial with a note inside it.

OOC: Wow, never write over seveal days, I can't beleive how broken up m concentration got :/

Strategos, do you want to send me a policy for this turn?

Bombshoo, you are permittd a policy. Do you want to send one?

~Darkening~ said:

The map made me realize something- for some reason, my people are pagan in the stats. While I did post a default faith for the sign-ups, I noticed it never appeared here. So rather than whine and complain, I'll just hum and ask a simple little question to two people: Jose and Lightfang, what exactly are your religions (if you don't mind me asking ?)

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Well, there's a lot you can ask. But Ryntnul is the religion of Rynt.

There are five gods, each one representing some facet of perfection, and you're supposed to strive to reach perfection. You do this by continually improving yourself, with ranks and everything. There's a hierarchy and such and the leader of each sect is voted in based on his merit.

If you want to know any specifics, just ask.

Orders sent bird! I had to take the stats out to keep it at 1 PM. I'm sure you don't mind .

And for those wondering about the Meoncaoi Vissar (our religion); I suppose its got some early henotheistic elements, but its major gods are obviously Vissar, two more gods for the moons and further of importance in warfare and agriculture. Minor ones include those of trade. Vissar is god of of the sun and the one credited with the creation of the Vissar people themselves, who were made in his own image.

Important concepts right now are just Serna, or divine justice (ripped from AFNES ). More will come and evolve in time based on certain cultural and historical occurances.

BJ, they are making me go back to work at the pub at 6.. If I don't get orders in within the next hour, can i have an extention til monday night?

Yes........

Birdjaguar said:

Strategos, do you want to send me a policy for this turn?

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No I do not

I got let home early. Perhaps I can get orders in soon

My orders were sent in a little while ago.

I sent orders. They're bad. But they're orders.

lurker's comment: Nice map Slavic Sioux!

The Manonash​

Update Two: The first Winnowing of the Weak​

For the most part the islands of the Manonash were peaceful during the third century. The scattered wars of previous years were replaced by internal reforms and consolidation of recent expansions.

The death of Nelliniur, the Guide of Ilosilletar in 206 after a reign of 26 years, set the stage for serious undertakings by this island kingdom. Nalciniur became Guide and immediately set about reforming both the army and navy. Arms and armor were improved, as well as, training, but he did not stop there. The traditional war canoes that had been carved from the giant trees of the northern Manonash were replaced by plank built galleys, called Ciyamohta, powered by a single bank of oarsmen rather than paddles. These new war ships were small, but superior as platforms for combat given the greater stability provided by their wider beam. By the year 216 the old navy was fully converted to the new warships and an expedition was sent to subdue the last of the “free” island to the north. This successful campaign was but a stepping stone to other ventures. In 219 it was payback time for the Rynt attacks of the previous century. The plan was to capture the bases and launch points used by the Rynt to attack Ilosilletar. The two year war humiliated the Rynt who were soundly beaten at sea and on the land. The war canoes failed miserably when confronted by the new galleys, giving the Ilosilletar a quick command of the sea. One by one the islands fell and Nephro Vuryta of Rynt sued for peace in 221.

This success in war ushered in several decades of prosperity and improved satisfaction among the common people and local leaders. The capital city of Rihare was rebuilt in stone and beautified with gardens and a new temple to Vinyille (goddess of the rose). Music and art flourished as new instruments found their way into common use and under the wise guidance of King Mahtiniur the first attempts at writing were instituted by scribes, but the impracticality of its undifferentiated line based structure kept it from any widespread use and by the end of the century it had fallen to the wayside. As the century closed, the priests, and religion in general, fell out of favor among the ruling class

In Rynt the kings were steadfast rather than brilliant and the caste system that has been the hallmark their stratified society was further confused by a policy of social advancement though merit. In any case the ambitious and smart thrived while most of the people languished, locked into fixed roles that determined their everyday lives. The bright spot in the lives of the common people was education. Under the leadership of Nephro in 254, education appropriate to one’s station in life was granted to those willing to learn. The failures of the military in the war with Ilosilletar spurred mid century investments in the art of war and seamanship. The new army was never put to the test, but the furious building of forts on the outer islands allowed stonemasonry to improve dramatically and eventually spill over into the design of temples and government buildings.

Tekashen was war free for 100 years, if you don’t count the conquest of the independent tribes to the north and west. The home island was finally subjugated in its entirety as was Colia to the north. Both Yana O’Keyal (210-223) and his son Elian (223-257) emphasized trade and improving roads and other infrastructure around the capital. The war between Rynt and Ilosilletar to the south had little impact other than to cause the Tekashen shipbuilders to switch to the improved plank built designs for their sailing vessels. Rexan O’Keyal, son of Elian, took the throne in 257, but abandoned it to his son Rivan in 278 when he undertook a pilgrimage south to the Oracle of Wendar. He never returned, and it was likely that the he lived out his days serving the great oracle. But the trip was not without benefit to Tekashen: for many years gifts and goods flowed north as the blessings of Wendar showered Tekashen.

The Straits of Tekashen
The tribes of the Makapi had lived nestled between the Tekashen, Razzak and Kiidor for many generations, and had done so peacefully. They had benefited from the trade that connected the three growing nations and smart diplomacy had allowed them to keep their freedom. But it was not to last. All three nations and Cantonia too had designs on the Makapi lands. The Tekashen and Kiidor knew of Cantonia’s plans to annex access to the coast and both wanted to keep Cantonia out to enhance control the straits for themselves; Razzak too wanted the land for itself. The Kiidor were first to act and seized the western most Makapi lands in 206. The Razzak expansion of 209 reached the Kiidor lands and brought all the remaining coast under Razzak control. The Cantonians plans were vague and poorly led, so by 219 they had been completely shut out of the Makapi collapse. But the goddess of good fortune smiled upon Cantonia and the Razzak war against Gaznel ignited discontent among the Razzak people, the newly acquired lands of the Makapi rebelled and sought help from the Red Robes of Cantonia. By mid century the new borders had been fixed and Cantonia well entrenched along the coast.

The Kiidorian expansion into the lands of the Makapi was just a small part of their plans for growth which pushed their borders far into the mountains of the east. The acquisition of new lands brought challenges as well and diligent kings worked hard to maintain order and peace in the kingdom. A rudimentary feudal structure was put in place and even a state run bureaucracy developed, but without any funding the bureaucracy was ineffective and soon disappeared. For the most part, though, the people were content. Bandits were pushed to the edges of the domain and new farmland chopped out of the great forests. In 289, the year King Jiaes died, tin was discovered along the eastern edge of the mountains and a small city grew up around the blossoming trade.

Warchief Tsi Sung of the Liasou with his ally King Kibil of Razzak planned war against the Gaznel and in 219 it commenced. 700 Razzak infantry and 200 chariots (with a contingent of200 Liasou infantry) struck south to seize the Gaznel land that rightfully belonged to Kibil and his heirs. With surprise and some success initial success on the battlefield the Razzak troops pushed deep into the Gaznel territory with the prospect of additional gains. It was at this point when the building discontent erupted into rebellion among the nobles and uprisings broke out all along the northern frontier and the newly acquired lands of the Makapi. King Kibil’s southern offense came to a halt as troops and attention were redirected north.

At word of Razzak’s invasion, Tsi Sung put his own plans into action. He would wait as the Razzak invasion drew the Gaznel troops north, then he would strike hard and fast to capture the southern city of Gazsaulseron. 1000 infantry and 200 chariots were assembled to attack from the southeast.

Solace I had tracked the Liasou invasion through his scouts that had been placed along the border for the last 3 months. His chieftains sat in the dirt around him under a large spreading oak tree. Solace savored the moment. The Razzak attack had been a surprise and he lost favor among many of his lords as the Gaznel holdings ebbed away in the first few weeks of the war. As he shored up his northern troops with fresh men from the capital, his captain at the front sent him captives and to Solace’s surprise, half a dozen were from Liasou. They talked rather than live the rest of their lives blind and without fingers and tongues. This war was more than just Razzak business. The weak Liasou navy told him the attack would come against Gazsaulseron in the south. He would be ready. He would sacrifice his northern lands to keep the south. And now his scouts confirmed his thinking. He was out numbered, but would have some advantages. 12 miles south of Gazsaulseron Solace sprung his trap. From the oak topped hill, he watched the battle unfold. The Liasou advanced in war bands of several hundred men each; there was little order beyond the standards and bonds of kinship. The chariots followed the smoothest terrain in small groups. Great clouds of dust were carried east on the wind. They had crossed a small, but troublesome creek and had begun to fan out across a wide swath of farmland when Solace attacked. His chariots in two wide lines roared out of the blowing dust across the flat fields from the far side of the open space. In minutes whatever order had been present among the Liaou was gone. Gaznel infantry followed in the dusty wake of the chariots. Solace waited and watched as more and more Liasou troops turned to face the onslaught. Then suddenly, with impatience, he sharply gestured to a green clad captain who took off running. More of his infantry charged out of the trees and into the flank and rear of the enemy war bands. Without panic the Liasou turned to face this new enemy and the blood spilling began in earnest. In the end the invaders fled and Gazsaulseron saved, but it was a bloody contest and left the victors without the strength for pursuit. As dusk fell the women came to strip the bodies and search for their men folk. Solace climbed into his chariot and headed for the comforts of the city. Neither side wished to continue the fighting and risk losing what little army was left to them. An uneasy truce followed and in the spring of the following year a formal peace confirmed.

But war was not all that came to Gaznel in those years. Babera I recognized that many of his people were discontented with the rule of him and his family and in 207 he founded the Order of the Smiles (as policy) to improve the lot of the lowest of his people when times were hardest. His agents went amongst the people to see firsthand what might be done to make their lives a bit better. Solace, his son and heir, was the first leader of the Order. As the war and the threat of more war died away in the late 220s Solace concerned himself with improving government and its contribution to the roads that bound his nation together. In 235 Gazsaul IV assumes kingship and breathed new life into the navy. He adopted the shipbuilding techniques of the Ilosilletar and increased the size of his navy.

Cantonian plans for the western shore of the Manonash were only partially fulfilled and what was achieved was because of events in Razzak and not the poorly planned operation of the king. The Makapi tribes accepted the light reins of their new Cantonian overlords. The Red Robes became the king’s army and expanded the nation’s borders north and east. Cantonian culture was growing in its influence in the area too. And when in 257 the Cantonian Games began their four year cycle, they were well attended by important people from all over the northern Manonash.

In the southern Manonash peace overshadowed all else for most of the century. The Shashod line of kings failed in 237 and civil war between cousins split the nation into twin kingdoms of discontent. Both the Gaznel and Xochicalco took advantage of the disorder to expand their lands. For Xochicalco it was a century of internal change. Axayaca reformed the government and improved the bureaucracy by making it more efficient and capable. His attempts to domesticate the gharials and giant salamanders that populated the lakes around the capital failed despite the efforts of him and his successors. Bizarre sacrificial practices also took hold in his time including those in which any king surviving his years in office was fed to the gharials. Most practices, though, were secret and little understood by outsiders. The second ruler elected through trial be combat was Akhushtal; she continued the reforms of Axayaca, expanded educational resources and even founded a small trading post far to the south called Bonampak. Its presence, though, rankled the developing tribes of the region. Observationism continued to gain strength within Xochicalco and its rituals became more prominent. The discovery of tin in the mountains of southern Asmarth prompted the founding of a small city nearby, and, as will be seen, an incursion by the Vissarai.

The discontent that had been spreading throughout Vissarai in the previous century was turned around by a vigorous program of land reform and assignment based on a lord’s ability to make the land productive. This effort not only improved agricultural production, but also improved tax collection and the Telemondesos’ control over his nobles. Early in the century (217-220) traders brought word to the court of Telemondesos Beaty I that rich tin deposits were likely in the mountains to the east in an area only loosely controlled by Asmarth. Vissarai settlers and miners were dispatched forthwith and within a few years the Vissarai largely controlled the region’s tin production. The Kings of Asmarth took little interest in the mining or the region. Token payments from tin profits were made to local Asmarth leaders to ease the transition from Asmarth to Vissarai control. Telemondesos Mitsoi Beagsuir III (228-251) launched an expedition to explore and settle the lands to the southeast. Of particular interest was following the course of any rivers. The expedition ran into particularly hostile tribes that lived along a river they called the Nueses so the gains were smaller than had been expected. None-the-less the headwaters of the Nueses was settled in the 240s. In 237 Mitsoi’s brother Turgham led a small army to subdue the natives and neither he nor his troops were ever heard from again. In the remaining years of the century Vissarai culture blossomed and its small temples more frequented. Temple ornamentation and even obelisks became more common in the larger cities.

The plague years 201-205
As might be expected, the pestilence began at the center of Manonash culture and interaction: The Oracle of Wendar. Outsiders saw it as their god’s vengeance against the Oracle; others as punishment for mankind’s evil ways. In any case it killed without regard to religion or nationality. In quick succession four High Priests of the Oracle and thousands of pilgrims from all across the Manonash succumbed. As pilgrims fled, the plague did also and the surrounding lands saw many deaths. The priests of Wendar established a hospital to care for those who took sick, but few whose palms and feet turned red as fire and their bodies burned in fever ever recovered. By 205 the dead and dying declined and the favor of the Wendar returned. It took half a decade for the pilgrims to return and the glory that was the Oracle to be restored, but it did. The oracle was again a beacon to all of the Manonash and even the Red Robes of Cantonia found their way the holy city with regularity. In 278 Rexan O’Keyal, king of the Tekashen, made a pilgrimage to the seek counsel with the Oracle. He was humbled by the majesty and power of Wendar and sought to serve this greatest of gods. It is said that he past the remainder of his days as a healer in the hospice created many years earlier. His death was unrecorded. Wendar blessed both the healer and his abandoned nation.

Like the Shashod weak kings ruled the Asmarth and dissolution seemed imminent. A nameless succession of pleasure loving monarchs neglected all but their own gratification and the nobles accumulated more and more power over their petty chiefdoms waiting for an opportunity to usurp their neighbor. A strong hand is needed to rescue this failing nation, to bring the warlords back under control and promote Asmarth to its rightful place in the history of the Manonash. (Loser where are you?)

Outcomes:
-675 infantry Gaznel
-165 chariots Gaznel
-775 infantry Liasou
-145 chariots Liasou
-125 chariots Razzak
-525 infantry Razzak
+Tin for Kiidor
+1 EP Kiidor (tin mines)
+1 EP Tekashen from Wendar
+Tin for Vissarai

There have been some changes to the map conventions. Dark grey is used for the cities (not black) excpet where white is more appropriate. If a city has both EC and TC designation, then the center may be filled to designate one of the advancements.

Update 2 map: