LINESII- Into the Darkness- Part II

aren't bigjaurs just another type of ramid? that are smaller or something

make ramids a UU

no, ramids are a beast that are domesticated, they are just a type of animal exercised currently by many nations, and bigjaurs are nothing close to ramids, ramids are like elephants or rhinos with ore tusks and stuff and more fierce, bigjaurs are giant jaguars that were domesticated by swade and are exercised only by bladist nations at this current time.

True. The ramids have six tusks, if I remember correctly, which makes them rather frightening mounts. There has been experiments with breeding smaller ramids for increased speed in the CRA, but I don't know how that went.

Ramids have six tusks what is this LOTRs? can I have raptors? with a monoclu?

they are like that, but not that huge. the elephants in LOTRs are like 10 stories high lol

Bigjaurs, Horses, and Ramids are the only available cavalry at this time.

Ramids actually have variations in the number of horns, depending on breed.

I'm on the home stretch of the update!

BTW, I'll be gone for a month in... 6 hours.

Bigjaurs, Horses, and Ramids are the only available cavalry at this time.

Click to expand...

The question remains - should they, despite their significant differences, be counted together or separately? Up to you, ofcourse.

Bigjaurs are fairly equivalent to horses, Ramids would be classified under 'heavy cavalry', which would be elite and very expensive (1 point for 10, like Gorin's new UU, which is mentioned in the update)

Or I could simply not rock the boat. But merging axes, spears, swords and archers into infantry would be nice at least. And maybe standardizing naval units.

think of a horse like a horse and a bigjaur like a warg for u lotr fans, but i am sure iggy would let u ride raptors if you could find some like komodo dragon beast like creature, i mean this is a different world... wait komodo beasts*goes back to the drawing board*

I've got to say, I really agree with Swiss on this. Don't change the unit types now. It might be time consuming, but the current system is more realistic. Not to mention, I just invented a great medium cavalry...

Okay, but could I merge infantry types?

You're the mod dammit! ignore them and do what you must!

I agree with emu; above all, however, I plea that Iggy concentrate on the update and THEN thinks about the ramids.

das ist seconded! *flees for fear of reprisals to the horrible pun*

i think we should stop bugging iggy and let him finish the update

I think it was stupid to branch units into axemen and swordsmen, it's not like we fuse the damn weapons to their hand.

Cleric said:

I think it was stupid to branch units into axemen and swordsmen, it's not like we fuse the damn weapons to their hand.

Click to expand...

exactly...why would we do that

Update 22- Years 1500-1535: Vandrios' Gambit

As trade and knowledge exchange increases, the last remnants of copper-age cultures have adopted Bronze.
(All Copper Age nations enter Bronze Age)

Ida’an’i’i is going through a time of stagnation. Its borders are not expanding, power is decentralizing further, and barbarians approach. Will it suffer the same, stagnating end that Aithea suffered?
(-Ida’an’i’i’ Confidence)

Probably not actually. For Tsaya, the cause of Aithea’s demise, seems unlikely to be doing more conquering in the immediate future.

It all started one chill, foggy day. Many days in the lands of Tsaya are like this, but that is a minor point. It sets a mood.

King Temat the Conqueror was found dead in his palace. Then, only a few days later, the army of Kelios flooded over the border. The Tsayans were in a state of disarray, and quickly lost many borderlands. Its more numerous armies, which could have normally easily pushed back the invaders, were disorganized and not following a central authority. The forces of Kelios had advanced to within sight of Tsariga when at last the young Tsayan, Prince Ezral, took solid control over the nation and put down his rivals for the throne. Quickly preparing his forces and rallying together his forces, he established a defensive line against the invaders. His large fleet began raiding trade ships and coastal settlements along the coast of Kelios.

But Ezral’s problems were just beginning. In the east, the barbarians that had been pushed away by the Tsayans prior to the conquest of Aithea began raiding into Tsayan borders. The Aitheans, began some scattered rebelling, although their disjointed and never properly unified culture prevented any serious organized rebellions.

Kelios has the upper hand for now, but can it maintain it? With Tsaya recovering and now fighting back, this may prove to be difficult. Nonetheless, Kelios maintains a distinct economic advantage, hampered little by the Tsayan blockade as large-scale trade with the west had not yet begun.
(-2000 Kelios Militia, -1000 Kelios Spearmen, -2000 Tsayan Spearmen, -1000 Tsayan Archers, -1 Tsayan Region)

In Tir Tairngire, a time of great upheaval has come. The War Chief declared himself High King and High Priest of the Holy Church. Which Church?

Pirian Oneist, unfortunately for the Divotheist majority of the country. For the High King immediately began a process of forced conversion, cracking down on all practitioners of the old faith. Many converted, but others fought. A civil war nearly broke out, but the Oneist forces stamped out opposition before it could become too strong. All of the nation now follows Pirian Oneism, although resentment towards the government is growing for its heavy-handed actions.
(-1000 Tuatha Spearmen, -Confidence, -Culture, All of Tuatha converts to Pirian Oneism)

Adar continues its rapid westward population growth. Propaganda and a rewriting of history have greatly increased national pride and confidence.

The still unnamed New World settlement of Citadel has come under threat from the forces of Adar, who demanded its abandonment, but the Citadelers refused. So far, Adar has not attacked.
(+Adar Confidence and Culture)

In a major move, the states of Davar and Arcadia signed the Treaty of Ardan, uniting the two separated nations back into one, the Union of Ardan. The body of St. Pire set off by ship back to its old resting place in the city of Ardan.
(Vael Dash: Religious Center becomes Cultural Center)

Sensing an upcoming conflict, Nontin has readied its army in case of a serious situation.

And this serious situation has arisen.

Signing a free trade agreement with distant Kelios (Note: This occurred before the Tsayan blockade cut off Kelios’ trade) Norvalin became a point of trade for eastern goods. Then, it extended the free trade agreement to include all Norvalin citizens, including the remaining Orthodox Oneist population in Venix.

Great anger was caused by this move, for Norvalin suddenly had a huge hold on trade. Rioting broke out against the Norvalins in Arcadia.

Then, things got much, much more dangerous.

2000 Norvalin troops marched into the city with no declaration of war. The Norvalin Assemblum insisted that none was needed, as this was merely a defense of its interests.

Arcadia had had enough of Norvalin’s arrogance. A large Urban Militia was raised, and pushed the Norvalin forces out with minor fighting. The nations exist now in a state of undeclared war, but neither side has chosen to act yet.
(-1000 Norvalin Returned)

Orum has done absolutely nothing worthy of mention, other than continuing to adopt Gamorrea’s beliefs ahead of the Citadel’s.
(More Orum converts to Gooranism)

A minor rebellion of Malkavians took place in Gamorrea, but it was quickly and brutally crushed. Many Malkavians have been killed, and all rebel sympathizers have been enslaved. Despite its apparent national advancement, it has been clearly shown that the Gamorreans have lost none of their brutality and ruthlessness

Gamorrea has now begun an active program of settlement to reduce the power of the Malkavians.

Meanwhile, Gamorrean forces have begun campaigning into the northern barbarians.
(-500 Gamorrean Horse Archers)

Ikki New Eldists flood into the Citadel to escape their persecution, bringing away many of Ikki’s best minds with them.
(Ikki’s New Eldist Population joins the Citadel)

Ikki’s forces in the west have advanced into the mountains on the Lengel border. The Lengels have not yet reacted to this, possibly viewing the lands as inconsequential or inconvenient for a cavalry-based nation. But the Lengel Khan has demanded that Ikki cease its expansion into these lands now.

Merhai has formed into a Republic. Increasing contact with the south has settled the people somewhat, and a capital has been founded, for now simply named ‘Merhai City’. Its army has expanded eastwards through the mountains and southwards towards Ikki with success.
(-500 Merhai Spearmen)

Gorin has entered a time of prosperity and advancement. Improving technologies have carried the nation to a level above its rivals. These advances in construction and weaponry quickly spread south into Khemri.
(Gorin and Khemri enter Imperial Age)

Gorinese settlers have begun to flood into the vast empty and fallow lands of the ‘Betrayers’. Cities have been established at the extremes of Gorin’s territory, at the northeast and southeast tips of the nation. Gorin is beginning to assimilate its absorbed cultures, though groups of ethnic Nkondi and impure Lengels still refuse to assimilate and agitate for independence in the north.

The northern border between Gorin and the Lengel nation remains undefined.

The Shalamari are at long last beginning to culturally assimilate into Gorin- and vice versa, as some would say.

Croyodon is continuing to adopt Nordism, and increasingly it is appearing hand in hand with Masra, with people practicing both faiths. It would seem that this is to be the future of religion in Croyodon.
(Masra and Nordism coexist in Croyodon)

In a parallel to what is happening in Croyodon, King Vikar of Kalmar has begun a project of revitalizing the Kalmar culture.

The UKKK’s hybrid religion has been christened ‘Aegypt’. Many view it as a uniting of Khemri’s religions, but the fact is that the majority of the nation follows other religions, notably Oneism, Otornosiasm and Orthodox Crystalism.

New cities are being founded in the UKKK’s recent conquests, beginning the imparting of Khemri’s culture on these areas

For the most part, this nation has been remarkably stable. Tellium is fine as long as it retains economic freedom, and Verta is willing to accept Khemri rule as long as its holy city is not defiled and its religion is respected. Recently-conquered Nurmafer could possibly become a trouble spot in the future, but its groups generally have difficulty co-operating with each other. And Kehexou, while clearly the weaker partner of the Union, is fairly-represented in government, and now shares a religion with Khemri.

Khemri’s economic development has made the generally unused arable lands of Old Nurmafer much more profitable.
(+1 Region)

The volcano off the coast of Kexoudau has, after centuries of regular eruption, at last gone silent. The regular tourism and pilgrimage to the area has dwindled, and the presence of the island (and the treacherous shallows around it) has prevented large-scale trade in its harbour.
(-Kexoudau Economic Center)

Skilv’so’s cultural integration with the Nurmaferi people continues. With the remaining independent Nurmaferi principalities facing subjugation by the Bladeists, joining Skilv’so and Khemri became viable alternatives. The Nurmaferis who were in Swade lands moved out freely, as the Swades were quite happy to see people of different ethnicities and religions out of their country.
(+1 Skilv’so Region)

Emorans from Swade-controlled Emor flood into Myocaca to escape the more religiously oppressive Swade Government.

Myocaca has gone into a phase of rebuilding. New cities are being built in war-ravaged areas, and the destroyed Grand Gates of Blade are being rebuilt. It is a golden age for Myocaca in many ways.
(+Confidence and Culture)

In the Swade Ascendancy, religious change is beginning. A recent development of Bladeism, called Wilipianity, is updated, with further texts and the recognition of the 3 saintlike ‘Gifts’, Wilipo, Diva, and Evern I. For the most part, these changes are very smooth, although a few disagree with the recognition of the Gifts, who some believe distract from the Blademaster.

Aryie remains a blissful island of peace in an ocean of violence.

To its south, the Valfei war has exploded in its magnitude. The original minor dispute over Qingdao has extended into a war involving every nation from Khemri to Trinlin (save Aryie), and then some.

Upon the declaration of war against New Veritas by the Bladeist states, Myocaca quickly occupied the city of Trenta. The city was lightly defended, and the small Urban Militia guard fled soon after seeing the large Myocacan force. Signs that a massive army had been here just shortly before added to Myocacan confusion, but these strange discoveries were not acted on.

Meanwhile, a Swade naval force headed to Sintonia was intercepted and annihilated by the forces of New Veritas and its allies.
(-5 Bladeremes, -5 Biguns)

A large Swade force then moved south into lands of the recently-converted Ozkir barbarians to the north of Guangfei, then charged into Alatia. Here they met up with Guangfei’s northern army. The overwhelmed Alatians were crushed, and their nation was divided between the Swades and Guangfei.
(-1000 Swade Longbowmen, -500 Bigjaur Riders, -2000 Guangfei Recruits, -500 Ma Bing, -Alatia)

Great internal changes took place inside Veritas as support of the Assemblum plummeted. Stratikrator Vandrios was given great authority, less than only the Autorex Strategius centuries earlier.
(+Confidence)

A call was made for militia volunteers, and it was answered.

While Urban Militia held off the Sintonian forces, New Veritas’ Palantioi Cavalry began attacking from the mountains, and infantry landed between Sintonia and Paleras, dividing the Sintonians in two.

Meanwhile, a force of 2000 Norvalin returned landed in southern Sintonia.

They had expected to find a Oneist majority area, but this was not to be the case. The Emoran settlement there had been minimal, and had been replaced primarily by Sintonians during the period of New Veritasian rule.

The forces of Norvalin fought their way northwards, but the going was difficult all the way. Sintonian forces were dispatched, and with an added militia, the invaders began to fall back.

Neither side had the strength to wipe each other out, so their front lines stabilized at a chokepoint between the mountains and the sea, south of Sintonia. But Bladeist sabotage against the Norvalins is quickly taking its toll.
(-1000 Norvalin Returned, -500 Sintonian Swordsmen)

Back in the north, New Veritas was quickly advancing. A deadly mixed cavalry force was decimating the Sintonian forces in the north, eventually forcing them back to Paleras. A small pocket remained fortified south of Redemption. Here, a huge pro-Valin rebellion took place. The Sintonians were unable to put down the rebels, and yielded the city of Paleras to New Veritas.
(-1000 Sintonian Swordsmen, -1000 Sintonian Spearmen, -500 New Veritasian Palantoi)

Guangfei has commissioned the deadly 1000 Imperial Guardsmen to aid the Dragon Throne in its time of most desparate need.

A force was sent to the south to hold off the Trinlinese advance. It was outnumbered, but superior in training and having the people on their side.

Word began to spread of Trinlinese atrocities, killing and stealing from peasants, defiling religious sites… it is unknown whether this is mere propaganda or actual fact (possibly a mix of both) but it has crystallized the hatred of the Guangfei peasantry to the invaders.

The Guangfei southern army, augmented by thousands of militia volunteers, met the western Trinlinese army at Chanjiang. At first, the battle was leaning toward’s Trinlin, but the first military actions of the Imperial Guards quickly began to turn the tides. This and the appearance of cavalry, which Trinlin had little or no experience fighting, sealed Trinlin’s fate. The western army was destroyed, and Guangfei crossed the river to fight the eastern force of Trinlin. The eastern force was particularly troubled because its expected Shangei allies had not arrived. Nonetheless, it continued its northeastern advance.

It was met across the river from Guanzhong by the forces of Guangfei. Running low on supplies, tired, and suffering from partisan actions behind its lines, Trinlin’s commander was in a very difficult situation.

When a message reached him from home, however, this would change. He was fighting for more than conquest. He was fighting for national survival…

Guangfei struck from the north and west. Trinlin went into a fighting retreat. But an attack from a cavalry force in the south that had been putting down pro-Shangei revolts was a final blow.

Trinlin’s last army was destroyed in the Great Battle of Jianking, totally surrounded and annihilated.
(-Trinlin’s army, -3000 Guangfei Recruits, -100 Imperial Guardsmen, -500 Ma Bing, -500 Archers, -500 Crossbowmen)

What was this message that Trinlin’s commander received?

Word of Khemri’s invasion.

During the war, Trinlin’s forces had been completely emptied into Guangfei. No organized defenders existed when, without warning, Khemri destroyed its small fleet and landed at the port city of Wiviter with a force of well over 10 000 trained soldiers.

Racing upriver, Khemri conquered city after city, falling too fast for Trinlin to form an organized resistance.

Then, rebellion broke out. Magland, the barbarian state absorbed into Trinlin over a century earlier, declared its independence. Barbarians in the west invaded and established the Kingdom of Destre. All over, barbarians took advantage of their longtime enemy’s weakness, and struck.

The combined forces of the Magland rebellion and Khemri quickly beat the remnants of Trinlin into submission.
(-Trinlin, +Magland, +Destre, -1000 Khemri Royal Guards, -500 Cataphratori, -1000 Skilv’so Spearmen)

And why had Shangei not aided Trinlin?

Civil war.

With the convenient deaths of many of the Veritasian guards of the Shangei King (possibly due to food poisoning from a poorly-cooked pig), a Shangei nationalist group tried to rescue their leader. The rescue attempt was nearly successful, but one of the Veritasian guards, believing that it would be better to kill the Shangei leadership than have it turn on New Veritas, slew Dong Xao.

With the simultaneous collapse of both Royal Authority (the death of the King) and Veritasian control (using Dong Xao to control the nation), the whole nation was torn apart by rival groups. Anarchy reigns in Bandong and Faitei.
(-Shangei)

To all, it was becoming clear that Guangfei and its allies were winning the war.

Until the location of Stratikrator Vandrios and his forces was discovered.

A force of over 10 thousand Valins, from as far away as Norvalin and Exilsium, smashed into northern Guangfei, racing straight for the capital. It seems that this was the solution to the mystery Myocaca had discovered in Trenta.

Desperately, Guangfei raised further militia to augment its 4000-strong defense corps in Guanzhong. Forces raced in from all directions. But they wouldn’t arrive in time.

Vandrios struck. And just before reaching the walls of the city, a gate opened. The traitors who committed the act were soon killed, but not before Ramids entered the city gates. The city was rampaged, and destroyed in the subsequent attack. The Emperor Yue was killed, but his son Ku succeeded him, and reestablished the government in the south (many officials had escaped)

Now, New Veritas holds the destroyed capital. But its forces are surrounded. And Guangfei is not collapsing.

But this position may be advantageous if peace agreements should begin. As always, only time can tell.
(-4000 Guangfei Recruits, -1000 Exilsium Latismen, -1000 New Veritasian Scimitari, -500 Cataphractoi, -1000 Norvalin Swordsmen)

A group of a hundred or so Guangfei set sail for the ‘Legendary Lands of the West’. No word has come from them yet, though it is generally assumed that they are floating somewhere in the frigid South Kaosian Ocean, frozen in fetal positions.



And on a far distant land, a god makes landfall...



*****

Notes: ~Darkening~, if you don’t like your colour (a 50-50 mix of your old colours) please request one different.

Old Nurmafer is where Nurmafer was prior to the Great War, New Nurmafer was its location afterwards.

SS, your nation exists, I just didn’t have the time to write about it. You exist as you did in the map you sent to me.

And please don’t flood my PM box with questions until I get back, please and thank you.

Seeya on October 31, or maybe earlier if I find an internet cafe.

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