Luckymoose
The World is Mine
Iggy I wanna play hurry up and post. You meany.
LINESII- Into the Darkness- Part II
- Thread starter Lord_Iggy
- Start date
lurker's comment: You don't recall correctly, it's 2 am his time now (I think, assuming Yukon is PST). If it were 6 am he'd be somewhere out in the Atlantic, or possibly on Greenland. 
Update 25- Years 1631 to 1677: Blademaster's Strike
The Yathai have expanded further, under the leadership of Viski Lasi’s descendants. They have established control over almost all of their archipelago, but run into powerful resistance on the mainland. The people there refuse to convert to Mantea, and are willing to fight to maintain what is theirs.
Emperor Jara, First Great Leader of Syracia, has taken a stand against the Ida’an’i’i pirates occupying the end of the Aithean peninsula. Several thousand soldiers set up camp near the border, and simply waited. The pressure of having to maintain a guard against an organized foe was too much for the raiders, who retreated without a fight, taking everything of value with them.
Raids from sea, however, continue.
(-5 Ships, +Syracian Confidence)
All throughout Kelios, the damage from the Tsayan war has been repaired, or at least plastered over. The economic strengthening has manifested itself in the development of Mard as a major port for Kelios’ goods.
(+Mard Economic Center)
However, the times are not all good. Barbarian attacks have begun from the north, after the failure of negotiations. It has been discovered that these are the northern bretheren of the Tsayans, and the land where many of the defeated fled to. Fired up with goals of conquest and vengeance, multiple disorganized attacks have destroyed several minor villages and a noticeable number of soldiers.
(-500 Axemen)
For many years, even centuries, the Divotheist faith had been weakening. Alse and Atheists migrated down from the north, destroying older Divotheist states, and new faiths from Terrania have worked their way into the cultures of Azulia, most notably in Tir Tairngire. A general lack of cooperation was the doom of the surviving nations. Until the ascendance of Prince Justok to the throne of Sanx. The third king of the Nictuma dynasty, Justok was a fervent Divotheist and skilled diplomat. He commissioned the order of Cloud Warriors, and rallied the failing will of his people and faith with goals of a restoration of the faith. Chancotol was also swept up in the fervor, and an alliance was signed between the two strongest remaining bastions of Divotheism. Their first goal: Intervention in the Tuatha civil war.
Chief Connall IV was already in a difficult situation, needing to both deal with the rebel forces and keep his own unruly people under control. However, his situation changed from difficult to near impossible when nearly 10 thousand enemy soldiers from Chancotol and Sanx came to support the Divotheist rebellion of Chief Kenna. Connall sent a desperate request for help to Ardan, but no forces were available. Only a promise to protect his next of kin and restore the nation in the future were offered. Now totally alone, the Pirian Chief of Tir Tairngire prepared his forces for the onslaught. He would wait even less than the brief time he had expected.
A force with Divotheist contingents from all of his enemies advanced straight to the capital of Murias. Outnumbered more than 5 to 1, Connall’s defenders were destroyed by the Divotheists, with Chief Kenna commanding the forces himself. As per Tuatha tradition, the two leaders fought each other, and once again Chief Kenna slew a Chief of the Connall bloodline, despite losing his right hand in the fight.
With Pirian authority shattered, the rest of the nation quickly fell into Kenna’s hands. While the new chief of Tir Tairngire was content to allow religious freedom, the zealous forces of Sanx enslaved and generally mistreated the Pirian clergy, reigniting conflict in the country. Kenna now approaches the forces who intervened on his behalf, thanking them for their assistance but requesting that they stop their retaliatory actions lest they be forced to continue fighting in Tir Tairngire, which delays intervention in Zemora.
(-4000 Tuatha Swordsmen, -1000 Sanx Spearmen, -500 Cloud Warriors, -1000 Chancotol Spearmen, -1000 Chancotol Axemen)
However, this possible intervention soon proved to be irrelevant. Adar quickly moved to liberalize its religious policies to give Zemorans a say in the Justiciar Coucil, but with the exception of collaborators (who made up perhaps one quarter of the population) most refused to recognize Adar’s occupation.
Regardless of this, and the relative lack of success of propaganda, the armies of Adar marched onwards. A large force quickly broke through the weak defenses and captured the northern reaches of Zemora, then swung around to aid the weaker southern force as it struggled to reach the capital. Striking Zemora’s ailing forces from the east, the capital was besieged. Despite its powerful defenses, designed by the Citadel itself, it was not impervious to attack, and was stormed after the realization that the city could get almost all of its food from fishing the rich waters to its south. Most of the government and people of importance escaped by sea, and the whole country was completely occupied. With this accomplished, Adar continued to attempt to make a working country out of itself and its foe. Unfortunately, while the generally pacifist Zemorans didn’t violently resist, they were and remain to this day generally uncooperative with their occupiers.
(-Zemora, +20 Chancotol Ships (Zemoran Government fled there), -1000 Justiciar Spears, -2000 Justiciars, -1000 Archers)
The Citadel of Knowledge continues its regular explorations. Another expedition into the far north was sent, but it reached a point where the ice became totally impassable. A small group of explorers set out over the sea-ice, and were never heard from again.
However, the northern expedition did discover a previously overlooked nation having only recently risen from barbarism. Malereficar is a warlike, but honourable, theocratic nation worshipping the god Maler.
Large amounts of New Eldist missionary activities have taken place in countries throughout the world, particularly in the Davarian region of the Union of Ardan. Several of the nations involved in the War of the White Rose are keeping a very close eye on their pacifist movements.
Gamorrea continues to refine its combat skills against the northern barbarians. Their casualties against the weaker and weaker tribes in the far north have continued to decline.
(-1000 Horse Archers)
In Gorin, chaos breaks out in the north. The problems began when several racist Gorinese groups in the north began programs to destroy the Lengel remnants. The Lengels, fearing a fate like the Gerbers before them, grouped around one warrior, who donned the Iron Mask of a Lengelzai and led his people to a new war- not for conquest as in the past, but for freedom and survival.
Gorin was quick to respond. Its agents killed several rebel leaders, but that alone was not enough to stop the uprising. So with typically heavy-handed (though highly effective) tactics, a huge force moved up into the northern area to augment the small local garrison and civilian militia. While this forced the rebellion down to committing minor raids, the huge area involved overspread even this massive army. It was this overextension that allowed the Republic of the Merhai to score its early victories against Gorin.
Coming to the aid of their former allies, the True Lengels, Merhai forces struck around the headwaters of the Wardash and Kalmar rivers. Gorin had been expecting this, but its defensive preparations were not quite complete at the time of the attack. Several smaller Gorinese forces were destroyed early on, but Gorin’s forces quickly rallied and began to push back the invaders. Southern Ramids were used against their Northern brethren during warmer periods, and deadly Bajo-Oni, acting as both commanders and soldiers, laid waste to much of the Merhai army. Seeing defeat as an inevitability against such might, even with the Lengel rebels on their side, Merhai forces withdrew back to the mountain ranges protecting their homeland. Gorin couldn’t capitalize on its enemy’s weakness, due to its distraction with the constant Lengel raids and the weakness of its long and delicate supply lines.
(-1000 Merhai Swordsmen, -1500 Spearmen, -15 Wooly Ramids, -1000 Gorinese Spearmen, -2000 Cavalry, -20 Ramids, -10 Bajo-Oni, -Some Non-stat Militias)
However, it didn’t need to capitalize on the opportunity. It had a new ally to do that.
Fairhelt, ancient rival and enemy of the Merhai clan, had long maintained a powerful army. It had watched Merhai grow more and more economically powerful, and weaken its armies by waging wars in the south. And now Gorin had approached it with gifts of technology and friendship, in exchange for joining it in the war against the Merhai. There would never be a chance better than this.
Fairhelt’s raiders attacked in several areas, hoping to distract Merhai’s forces. However, this backfired, as Merhai didn’t have enough forces to react in the area. Instead, they now had a warning of attack. People around the country were called up to fight for their nation’s freedom against an aggressor. But before these forces could reach the front lines, the main Fairhelt force struck, led by none other than Saro, leader of Fairhelt and self-proclaimed ‘Conqueror’.
Pouring into the relatively flat and poorly-defensible lands at the northwest corner of the inland sea, Saro quickly captured the northern reaches of the country. The small archer garrison in the mountains at the border was quickly starved out and annihilated. Securing the area around the inland sea, Fairhelt’s forces then began to advance upriver towards Kaliai. Here, they met their first significant resistance. The volunteer army of Merhai and some of the survivors from the Gorinese campaign confronted the invaders in battle, then retreated after discovering that they were outnumbered. Adopting raiding and attrition tactics, Merhai slowed Fairhelt’s advance. In desperation, the Great Council adopted a burnt earth policy, taking everything of use further south, and damaging or destroying anything which couldn’t be moved.
It seems that this policy has worked. Fairhelt’s forces have been halted, but their losses have been comparatively tiny. As for Merhai, its troops are well-supplied, but its economy is in tatters. Over half of its productive areas are captured, and trade with the south has been totally cut off. Save foreign intervention of a humiliating peace treaty, it seems that Merhai is now facing its destruction.
(-500 Merhai Spearmen, -1000 Archers, -5 Wooly Ramids, -2000 Fairhelt Axemen, -25 Wooly Ramids, -1 Merhai Region, -Kaliai Economic Center, +Fairhelt Confidence)
Croyodon’s brief civil war has come to an end, (what haven’t you read Farow’s stories?) resulting in national reunification and a council giving representation to both major religions in the nation. Tensions with increasingly temperamental Gorin are high, although nothing has yet come of this.
With the construction of the southern port of Tanadon, trade with the nations in the south other than Gorin is developing rapidly.
While Lengels rebelled and Merhai invaded Gorin in the north, a third strike hit from the east. A massive force of mixed levies and professionals led by the Union of Ardan’s Styatior Xean crossed the Keran Range by road and burst into Gorin at possibly its weakest point. Several shows of strength quickly convinced a large number of Nkondi to rebel, though many didn’t, and some even formed an insurgency against the Oneist invaders and collaborators.
With horrifying speed, Xean conquered his way across the Kalmar River, smashing a fairly significant Gorinese army dealing with the Lengel rebellion at the Battle of Zawasae. General Teos, Xean’s second-in-command, led a smaller and lower quality army into what had once been Gerber, eliminating the minimal Gorinese presence in the area and discovering a small group of Aneyans establishing what they called ‘The Free City of Tigot’. By the time that both generals had reached the banks of the Wardash, there had still been no enemy counterattack. Central Gorin was ripe for the taking.
Then, the forces which had been redeployed from the Croyodon border arrived to confront Xean’s army, just as it was about to make a final advance to the city of Gorin itself. At the Battle of Dathan, thousands of Gorinese cavalry led by a relatively obscure general named Haloski and an uncounted number of volunteer militia faced off against Xean’s 5000 professionals and 30 000 conscripts, augmented by Nkondi rebels.
Xean made the first move. His Katiahn and Spear formations advanced straight towards the center of the still-organizing Gorinese force, with his vast conscript forces guarding the flanks. General Haloski sent his large cavalry force around to charge the right flank of the enemy, and set up a Moosey and militia Spearman formation to meet Xean’s assault. Ardan’s troops smashed down a huge number of Spearmen, but Gorin’s cavalry were ripping the right flank apart.
Pulling back his center and regrouping, Haloski sent his surviving Mooseys to try and stop the Katiahn advance. They put up a strong fight, but were shattered. Large parts of the remaining Gorinese militia began to panic and disorganize, giving Xean the chance to move his infantry around to counter the Gorinese Cavalry. Sending forth thousands of swift Nkondi Spearwomen, Gorin’s Cavalry fought, but consistently were denied in their flanking attempts. Thinned out to the point of collapse after hours of fighting, Gorin’s cavalry retreated to the south, to warn the central cities of Gorin.
Having won this latest battle, Xean pressed his advantage and raced for the ancient city of Gorin. Reaching it a few hours before sunrise, the Styatior of Ardan stormed the city. The surviving militia and civilian resisters fought valiantly and cost heavily, but the city fell nonetheless. Much to Xean’s disappointment, the Kaiser had already fled over the river to Bathar.
The advance was now in a very delicate stage. The supply lines were stretched too far, and the army relied on its own movement through enemy land to get new food and supplies. Seizing most things of value from the capital of Gorin, Xean prepared to cross the Wardash to Bathar. Then, dire news reached him from General Teos.
Khemri had intervened.
The General known to most as ‘The Knight’ had led a force of tens of thousands of Khemri soldiers through Gorin and straight into Teos’ force. At the Battle of Gyarth, Khemri’s highly advanced and balanced force had emerged with a total victory over Teos’ less trained and sizeable army. Only the general and his personal bodyguard had managed to escape.
Following his victory at Gyarth, The Knight cut his enemies’ supply lines and turned to destroy the trapped invaders. Xean’s army, forced to abandon its advance, met up with Teos in the Darkavia region (former Qua’laen Jal) and prepared to battle for their lives and nation.
Wasting no time, Khemri threw a huge cavalry charge and arrow bombardment at the enemy force. Xean’s depleted force bunkered down and fought off several charges, but the Crystal Knights, as Khemri’s former Cataphratori are now known as wore away at the exhausted force. Soon coming to see that their fighting was almost hopeless, the Styatior called for a fighting retreat back into Nkondi lands. However, his infantry force lacked the great maneuverability and balance of The Knight’s mixed army. Xean’s soldiers and conscripts were encircled as soon as their intentions were discovered. In one final, heroic battle, Xean’s forces seized a small hill and fought Khemri to their deaths. The cost was high, but Ardan’s forces in Gorin were annihilated.
(-All of Ardan’s remaining 40 000 Recruits, -2000 Spearmen, -1000 Katiahn, -1500 Urban Militia, -2000 Gorinese Cavalry, -2000 Spearmen, -1000 Mooseys, -500 Archers, -A bunch of volunteers, -2000 Khemri Royal Guards, -3000 Crystal Knights, -5000 Militia, -5 Armoured Ramids, A bunch of Nkondi rebels, -4 Economy points to Gorin next turn, -Gorinese Confidence)
Shortly after the defeat of Xean’s forces, a huge explosion ripped through a central part of Gorin. This is quite odd, as explosives haven’t been invented yet. Found written on a wall the day after was an ominous promise of ‘more death and destruction’. Gorinese investigators have yet to make heads or tails of the motive or cause of the attack..
Kalmar was secured by a large Khemri force led by Ithaur, The Void, the black-armoured General of Khemri. Bereft of all love and emotion save for his orders, since the loss of his wife and family during the White Rose rebellion. Disloyal elements in Kalmar were purged from the military and other places of power, and the nation’s relationship with Khemri was reaffirmed.
(-2000 Kalmar Spearmen)
With the Union of Ardan reeling, Khemri prepared to deal a killing blow to the Davian portion of the Union. The Nkondi rebels were largely ignored, they could be dealt with later. Securing the same mountain road which Davar had crossed over a few years before, The Knight led his force over the Keran range and into Davar. He suffered several frustrating losses traveling along the treacherous road, losing several Ramids to the cold and slippery conditions, and nearly 1000 soldiers in an avalance believed to be set off by Ardan’s soldiers.
(-10 Armoured Ramids, -1000 Militia)
Just before exiting the mountains and entering the Davian uplands, a ragtag Army of Ardan confronted his force. Despite poor training and numbers, they held off Khemri’s force for several weeks before Khemri managed to sneak their Royal Guards behind them and rout the defenders.
Meanwhile, The Void led his joint Kalmar/Khemri force northwards from Kalmar. Finding no large armies in his way, his forces spread out and quickly subjugated southern Davar. As order collapsed around them like a house of burning toothpicks (try it some time), the government of the Union of Ardan evacuated their holy capital and reestablished their government in Vael Dash.
(-1000 Kalmar Axemen, -1000 Khemri Royal Guards)
The Yathai have expanded further, under the leadership of Viski Lasi’s descendants. They have established control over almost all of their archipelago, but run into powerful resistance on the mainland. The people there refuse to convert to Mantea, and are willing to fight to maintain what is theirs.
Emperor Jara, First Great Leader of Syracia, has taken a stand against the Ida’an’i’i pirates occupying the end of the Aithean peninsula. Several thousand soldiers set up camp near the border, and simply waited. The pressure of having to maintain a guard against an organized foe was too much for the raiders, who retreated without a fight, taking everything of value with them.
Raids from sea, however, continue.
(-5 Ships, +Syracian Confidence)
All throughout Kelios, the damage from the Tsayan war has been repaired, or at least plastered over. The economic strengthening has manifested itself in the development of Mard as a major port for Kelios’ goods.
(+Mard Economic Center)
However, the times are not all good. Barbarian attacks have begun from the north, after the failure of negotiations. It has been discovered that these are the northern bretheren of the Tsayans, and the land where many of the defeated fled to. Fired up with goals of conquest and vengeance, multiple disorganized attacks have destroyed several minor villages and a noticeable number of soldiers.
(-500 Axemen)
For many years, even centuries, the Divotheist faith had been weakening. Alse and Atheists migrated down from the north, destroying older Divotheist states, and new faiths from Terrania have worked their way into the cultures of Azulia, most notably in Tir Tairngire. A general lack of cooperation was the doom of the surviving nations. Until the ascendance of Prince Justok to the throne of Sanx. The third king of the Nictuma dynasty, Justok was a fervent Divotheist and skilled diplomat. He commissioned the order of Cloud Warriors, and rallied the failing will of his people and faith with goals of a restoration of the faith. Chancotol was also swept up in the fervor, and an alliance was signed between the two strongest remaining bastions of Divotheism. Their first goal: Intervention in the Tuatha civil war.
Chief Connall IV was already in a difficult situation, needing to both deal with the rebel forces and keep his own unruly people under control. However, his situation changed from difficult to near impossible when nearly 10 thousand enemy soldiers from Chancotol and Sanx came to support the Divotheist rebellion of Chief Kenna. Connall sent a desperate request for help to Ardan, but no forces were available. Only a promise to protect his next of kin and restore the nation in the future were offered. Now totally alone, the Pirian Chief of Tir Tairngire prepared his forces for the onslaught. He would wait even less than the brief time he had expected.
A force with Divotheist contingents from all of his enemies advanced straight to the capital of Murias. Outnumbered more than 5 to 1, Connall’s defenders were destroyed by the Divotheists, with Chief Kenna commanding the forces himself. As per Tuatha tradition, the two leaders fought each other, and once again Chief Kenna slew a Chief of the Connall bloodline, despite losing his right hand in the fight.
With Pirian authority shattered, the rest of the nation quickly fell into Kenna’s hands. While the new chief of Tir Tairngire was content to allow religious freedom, the zealous forces of Sanx enslaved and generally mistreated the Pirian clergy, reigniting conflict in the country. Kenna now approaches the forces who intervened on his behalf, thanking them for their assistance but requesting that they stop their retaliatory actions lest they be forced to continue fighting in Tir Tairngire, which delays intervention in Zemora.
(-4000 Tuatha Swordsmen, -1000 Sanx Spearmen, -500 Cloud Warriors, -1000 Chancotol Spearmen, -1000 Chancotol Axemen)
However, this possible intervention soon proved to be irrelevant. Adar quickly moved to liberalize its religious policies to give Zemorans a say in the Justiciar Coucil, but with the exception of collaborators (who made up perhaps one quarter of the population) most refused to recognize Adar’s occupation.
Regardless of this, and the relative lack of success of propaganda, the armies of Adar marched onwards. A large force quickly broke through the weak defenses and captured the northern reaches of Zemora, then swung around to aid the weaker southern force as it struggled to reach the capital. Striking Zemora’s ailing forces from the east, the capital was besieged. Despite its powerful defenses, designed by the Citadel itself, it was not impervious to attack, and was stormed after the realization that the city could get almost all of its food from fishing the rich waters to its south. Most of the government and people of importance escaped by sea, and the whole country was completely occupied. With this accomplished, Adar continued to attempt to make a working country out of itself and its foe. Unfortunately, while the generally pacifist Zemorans didn’t violently resist, they were and remain to this day generally uncooperative with their occupiers.
(-Zemora, +20 Chancotol Ships (Zemoran Government fled there), -1000 Justiciar Spears, -2000 Justiciars, -1000 Archers)
The Citadel of Knowledge continues its regular explorations. Another expedition into the far north was sent, but it reached a point where the ice became totally impassable. A small group of explorers set out over the sea-ice, and were never heard from again.
However, the northern expedition did discover a previously overlooked nation having only recently risen from barbarism. Malereficar is a warlike, but honourable, theocratic nation worshipping the god Maler.
Large amounts of New Eldist missionary activities have taken place in countries throughout the world, particularly in the Davarian region of the Union of Ardan. Several of the nations involved in the War of the White Rose are keeping a very close eye on their pacifist movements.
Gamorrea continues to refine its combat skills against the northern barbarians. Their casualties against the weaker and weaker tribes in the far north have continued to decline.
(-1000 Horse Archers)
In Gorin, chaos breaks out in the north. The problems began when several racist Gorinese groups in the north began programs to destroy the Lengel remnants. The Lengels, fearing a fate like the Gerbers before them, grouped around one warrior, who donned the Iron Mask of a Lengelzai and led his people to a new war- not for conquest as in the past, but for freedom and survival.
Gorin was quick to respond. Its agents killed several rebel leaders, but that alone was not enough to stop the uprising. So with typically heavy-handed (though highly effective) tactics, a huge force moved up into the northern area to augment the small local garrison and civilian militia. While this forced the rebellion down to committing minor raids, the huge area involved overspread even this massive army. It was this overextension that allowed the Republic of the Merhai to score its early victories against Gorin.
Coming to the aid of their former allies, the True Lengels, Merhai forces struck around the headwaters of the Wardash and Kalmar rivers. Gorin had been expecting this, but its defensive preparations were not quite complete at the time of the attack. Several smaller Gorinese forces were destroyed early on, but Gorin’s forces quickly rallied and began to push back the invaders. Southern Ramids were used against their Northern brethren during warmer periods, and deadly Bajo-Oni, acting as both commanders and soldiers, laid waste to much of the Merhai army. Seeing defeat as an inevitability against such might, even with the Lengel rebels on their side, Merhai forces withdrew back to the mountain ranges protecting their homeland. Gorin couldn’t capitalize on its enemy’s weakness, due to its distraction with the constant Lengel raids and the weakness of its long and delicate supply lines.
(-1000 Merhai Swordsmen, -1500 Spearmen, -15 Wooly Ramids, -1000 Gorinese Spearmen, -2000 Cavalry, -20 Ramids, -10 Bajo-Oni, -Some Non-stat Militias)
However, it didn’t need to capitalize on the opportunity. It had a new ally to do that.
Fairhelt, ancient rival and enemy of the Merhai clan, had long maintained a powerful army. It had watched Merhai grow more and more economically powerful, and weaken its armies by waging wars in the south. And now Gorin had approached it with gifts of technology and friendship, in exchange for joining it in the war against the Merhai. There would never be a chance better than this.
Fairhelt’s raiders attacked in several areas, hoping to distract Merhai’s forces. However, this backfired, as Merhai didn’t have enough forces to react in the area. Instead, they now had a warning of attack. People around the country were called up to fight for their nation’s freedom against an aggressor. But before these forces could reach the front lines, the main Fairhelt force struck, led by none other than Saro, leader of Fairhelt and self-proclaimed ‘Conqueror’.
Pouring into the relatively flat and poorly-defensible lands at the northwest corner of the inland sea, Saro quickly captured the northern reaches of the country. The small archer garrison in the mountains at the border was quickly starved out and annihilated. Securing the area around the inland sea, Fairhelt’s forces then began to advance upriver towards Kaliai. Here, they met their first significant resistance. The volunteer army of Merhai and some of the survivors from the Gorinese campaign confronted the invaders in battle, then retreated after discovering that they were outnumbered. Adopting raiding and attrition tactics, Merhai slowed Fairhelt’s advance. In desperation, the Great Council adopted a burnt earth policy, taking everything of use further south, and damaging or destroying anything which couldn’t be moved.
It seems that this policy has worked. Fairhelt’s forces have been halted, but their losses have been comparatively tiny. As for Merhai, its troops are well-supplied, but its economy is in tatters. Over half of its productive areas are captured, and trade with the south has been totally cut off. Save foreign intervention of a humiliating peace treaty, it seems that Merhai is now facing its destruction.
(-500 Merhai Spearmen, -1000 Archers, -5 Wooly Ramids, -2000 Fairhelt Axemen, -25 Wooly Ramids, -1 Merhai Region, -Kaliai Economic Center, +Fairhelt Confidence)
Croyodon’s brief civil war has come to an end, (what haven’t you read Farow’s stories?
) resulting in national reunification and a council giving representation to both major religions in the nation. Tensions with increasingly temperamental Gorin are high, although nothing has yet come of this.With the construction of the southern port of Tanadon, trade with the nations in the south other than Gorin is developing rapidly.
While Lengels rebelled and Merhai invaded Gorin in the north, a third strike hit from the east. A massive force of mixed levies and professionals led by the Union of Ardan’s Styatior Xean crossed the Keran Range by road and burst into Gorin at possibly its weakest point. Several shows of strength quickly convinced a large number of Nkondi to rebel, though many didn’t, and some even formed an insurgency against the Oneist invaders and collaborators.
With horrifying speed, Xean conquered his way across the Kalmar River, smashing a fairly significant Gorinese army dealing with the Lengel rebellion at the Battle of Zawasae. General Teos, Xean’s second-in-command, led a smaller and lower quality army into what had once been Gerber, eliminating the minimal Gorinese presence in the area and discovering a small group of Aneyans establishing what they called ‘The Free City of Tigot’. By the time that both generals had reached the banks of the Wardash, there had still been no enemy counterattack. Central Gorin was ripe for the taking.
Then, the forces which had been redeployed from the Croyodon border arrived to confront Xean’s army, just as it was about to make a final advance to the city of Gorin itself. At the Battle of Dathan, thousands of Gorinese cavalry led by a relatively obscure general named Haloski and an uncounted number of volunteer militia faced off against Xean’s 5000 professionals and 30 000 conscripts, augmented by Nkondi rebels.
Xean made the first move. His Katiahn and Spear formations advanced straight towards the center of the still-organizing Gorinese force, with his vast conscript forces guarding the flanks. General Haloski sent his large cavalry force around to charge the right flank of the enemy, and set up a Moosey and militia Spearman formation to meet Xean’s assault. Ardan’s troops smashed down a huge number of Spearmen, but Gorin’s cavalry were ripping the right flank apart.
Pulling back his center and regrouping, Haloski sent his surviving Mooseys to try and stop the Katiahn advance. They put up a strong fight, but were shattered. Large parts of the remaining Gorinese militia began to panic and disorganize, giving Xean the chance to move his infantry around to counter the Gorinese Cavalry. Sending forth thousands of swift Nkondi Spearwomen, Gorin’s Cavalry fought, but consistently were denied in their flanking attempts. Thinned out to the point of collapse after hours of fighting, Gorin’s cavalry retreated to the south, to warn the central cities of Gorin.
Having won this latest battle, Xean pressed his advantage and raced for the ancient city of Gorin. Reaching it a few hours before sunrise, the Styatior of Ardan stormed the city. The surviving militia and civilian resisters fought valiantly and cost heavily, but the city fell nonetheless. Much to Xean’s disappointment, the Kaiser had already fled over the river to Bathar.
The advance was now in a very delicate stage. The supply lines were stretched too far, and the army relied on its own movement through enemy land to get new food and supplies. Seizing most things of value from the capital of Gorin, Xean prepared to cross the Wardash to Bathar. Then, dire news reached him from General Teos.
Khemri had intervened.
The General known to most as ‘The Knight’ had led a force of tens of thousands of Khemri soldiers through Gorin and straight into Teos’ force. At the Battle of Gyarth, Khemri’s highly advanced and balanced force had emerged with a total victory over Teos’ less trained and sizeable army. Only the general and his personal bodyguard had managed to escape.
Following his victory at Gyarth, The Knight cut his enemies’ supply lines and turned to destroy the trapped invaders. Xean’s army, forced to abandon its advance, met up with Teos in the Darkavia region (former Qua’laen Jal) and prepared to battle for their lives and nation.
Wasting no time, Khemri threw a huge cavalry charge and arrow bombardment at the enemy force. Xean’s depleted force bunkered down and fought off several charges, but the Crystal Knights, as Khemri’s former Cataphratori are now known as wore away at the exhausted force. Soon coming to see that their fighting was almost hopeless, the Styatior called for a fighting retreat back into Nkondi lands. However, his infantry force lacked the great maneuverability and balance of The Knight’s mixed army. Xean’s soldiers and conscripts were encircled as soon as their intentions were discovered. In one final, heroic battle, Xean’s forces seized a small hill and fought Khemri to their deaths. The cost was high, but Ardan’s forces in Gorin were annihilated.
(-All of Ardan’s remaining 40 000 Recruits, -2000 Spearmen, -1000 Katiahn, -1500 Urban Militia, -2000 Gorinese Cavalry, -2000 Spearmen, -1000 Mooseys, -500 Archers, -A bunch of volunteers, -2000 Khemri Royal Guards, -3000 Crystal Knights, -5000 Militia, -5 Armoured Ramids, A bunch of Nkondi rebels, -4 Economy points to Gorin next turn, -Gorinese Confidence)
Shortly after the defeat of Xean’s forces, a huge explosion ripped through a central part of Gorin. This is quite odd, as explosives haven’t been invented yet. Found written on a wall the day after was an ominous promise of ‘more death and destruction’. Gorinese investigators have yet to make heads or tails of the motive or cause of the attack..
Kalmar was secured by a large Khemri force led by Ithaur, The Void, the black-armoured General of Khemri. Bereft of all love and emotion save for his orders, since the loss of his wife and family during the White Rose rebellion. Disloyal elements in Kalmar were purged from the military and other places of power, and the nation’s relationship with Khemri was reaffirmed.
(-2000 Kalmar Spearmen)
With the Union of Ardan reeling, Khemri prepared to deal a killing blow to the Davian portion of the Union. The Nkondi rebels were largely ignored, they could be dealt with later. Securing the same mountain road which Davar had crossed over a few years before, The Knight led his force over the Keran range and into Davar. He suffered several frustrating losses traveling along the treacherous road, losing several Ramids to the cold and slippery conditions, and nearly 1000 soldiers in an avalance believed to be set off by Ardan’s soldiers.
(-10 Armoured Ramids, -1000 Militia)
Just before exiting the mountains and entering the Davian uplands, a ragtag Army of Ardan confronted his force. Despite poor training and numbers, they held off Khemri’s force for several weeks before Khemri managed to sneak their Royal Guards behind them and rout the defenders.
Meanwhile, The Void led his joint Kalmar/Khemri force northwards from Kalmar. Finding no large armies in his way, his forces spread out and quickly subjugated southern Davar. As order collapsed around them like a house of burning toothpicks (try it some time), the government of the Union of Ardan evacuated their holy capital and reestablished their government in Vael Dash.
(-1000 Kalmar Axemen, -1000 Khemri Royal Guards)
Update 25- Years 1631 to 1677: Blademaster's Strike- Continued
Such is the state of the northern portion of the War of the White Rose, and the various wars spawned because of it. Now, for the southern portion:
The first act in the war in the south was the Blockade of the Kehex Sea by Veritas and Ardan. Khemri’s fleet retreated before them, making no attempts to engage them. The Oneist navy continued its cautious advance further into the sea, and sent a small force up the lower Wardash to harass Khemri’s supply routes in Old Veritas.
Shortly after the move up the Wardash, Veritas made its first major move. Landings were simultaneously made at Dysonis and Andama. The local Khemri commander received word at Dysonis, but information from Andama was delayed, presumably due to White Rose agents causing trouble for Khemri’s messenger system.
The force at Dysonis was quickly annihilated, possibly helped to the large Khemri civilian presence in the area. However, the northern force was given a chance to establish, and was reinforced by the Kalmar forces and volunteers who had deserted during The Void’s loyalty check shortly before.
The Khemri commander’s numerically superior force arrived a few days after their victory at Dysonis. The two armies met between Lux and Andama, just outside of a small village named Terias. The battle was roughly equal at first. Veritas’ lighter and more mobile force attempted to flank or outmaneuver Khemri’s stronger but generally less mobile troops (with the exception of the Horse Archers, of course). Veritas revealed its new secret weapon a few minutes into the battle. Colossal, hairy beasts twice as tall as a man, with long gangly arms, deadly blades and maces strapped to each. This group of Yeti, dubbed ‘White Ghosts’, were massive creatures from the wastes north of Norvalin were horrifically powerful shock troopers. After losing fighters to them and nearly losing control of their fearful force, Khemri began to fight back logically. Becoming injured, several Yeti went berserk, as often against the Valins as against Khemri. Still quite early in the battle, 7 of the Yeti had been killed in their frenzies, and one had fled the battle. Two proved to be calm, and continued to fight alongside their masters.
As the fighting ground on, Khemri’s advantage of numbers became larger and larger. Until, without warning, a new attack hit Khemri’s rear.
Stratikrator Xenophon, who had managed to escape from his previous defeat, led a mixed force of over 11 000 in a huge assault.
Khemri’s Royal Guards clashed with thousands of Urban Militia and mixed Valin cavalry and infantry. Horse Archers were sent in sweeping moves to take out many of the more lightly-defended Militia.
Once again, the battle was equal. Too equal. Thousands of men were dropping on both sides, but neither was backing down. With one powerful stroke, a charge of Crystal Knights broke apart the landing force from Andama, forcing it to retreat. However, at the same time, Xenophon struck. The weakened force from Khemri wavered, and a blow was struck at its center. Many Crystal Knights got caught in a swarm of infantry and were killed. The remainder of Khemri’s army in the area, not wanting to lose all of Tellium to the Valins, retreated. In their retreat, they collapsed the mines outside of Lux (no one was inside at the time), denying their use to the enemy. Veritas had won the Battle of Terias, but at a horrible cost.
(-14 000 Levees, -3000 Horse Archers, -3000 Royal Guard, -2000 Crystal Knights, -6000 Urban Militia, -2000 Rose Knights, -1000 Palantoi, -2500 Scimitari, -500 Latismen, -1000 Pelarioi, -8 Yeti)
Meanwhile, the Oneist fleet made a move into the Kehexou archipelago. Whether by accident or elaborate plan, it collided with a large part of Khemri’s fleet in a narrow straight. Clearly not wanting a fight in such a situation, the Khemri admiral fled, only engaging a few aggressive Valin galleys. The Oneist fleet gave pursuit. Several distractions left by Khemri’s fleet delayed their pursuers, but Veritas and Ardan caught up. Khemri’s fleet, nearly out of the archipelago, split up. One part escaped into the open ocean, but another took a wrong turn, and found itself trapped in a bay. Sending out some ships to pursue, a large portion of the Oneist fleet advanced on the trapped Khemri vessels.
Then, in an instant, the predator became the prey.
Great chains rose out of the water, trapping a large number of Oneist ships. Many hit raised chains and suffered huge damage to the rigging. Others hit in the hull and bounced off, or cracked.
With a large part of the fleet trapped, the chains began to close in on each other, forcing the ships into each other. Some looking around revealed ramids on the shorelines attached to the chains, pulling them tighter at the encouragement of their handlers. Now was when Khemri’s ‘fleeing’ fleet returned and began to attack the Oneists.
With much of their fleet caught in a constricting trap, the Oneists’ 2:1 numerical advantage was practically reversed. Khemri’s smaller vessels engaged many of the free Oneist ships, while trebuchets hidden on the shore and other siege weapons on Tridents bombarded the trapped ships.
Due to taking place in such a contained space, the battle quickly became a dense, chaotic place. This proved to be an advantage for the Oneists, who had trained many of their forces for marine warfare. They also managed to deal major damage with their fire galleys, which Khemri was unable to maneuver away from in many cases.
While Khemri and Veritas battled outside of the bay, the Khemri force inside the bay was working to destroy the Valins as fast as possible. They had immobilized and seriously damaged many ships. Forces on the shore and quick work by the Ramids had made landings on the shoreline nearly impossible, though the Valins made many spirited attempts.
Eventually, the trapped ships were all destroyed by long-range bombardment, though their archers and ship-based siege weapons managed to do some damage to their attackers. With most of the Oneist fleet sunk, the chains were lowered and the two Khemri forces were able to reunite and drive off the surviving enemies.
The Battle of Geddex (as the island which held the bay which the battle took place in is named) was the largest and costliest naval battle ever to occur up to this point. 255 ships in total were involved, and all but 65 would never sail again. It was a victory for Khemri, but one of horrific costs.
(-20 Khemri Bimarines, -20 Tridents, -30 Galleys, -45 Davian (Ardanese, UoA, whatever) Jyuphia, -50 Veritasian Septaremes, -10 Triremes, -15 Galleys, -1000 Scimitari, -1000 Latismen)
However, the Oneists did get a weak last laugh. The Davian fleet raced for Khadon after its defeat, bringing the surviving Valins with them, and wrecked havoc on the docks of Khadon before fleeing when Khemri’s River fleet came to confront them. Their bold raid caused a temporary shock in Khemri, as it caused people to believe that their fleet had been defeated. However, celebrations broke out throughout the Kingdom when word reached them of the truth.
(+Khemri Confidence)
Skilv’so continues on, unbothered by external events ‘on the other ocean’. The religions of Otornosiasm and Masra grow in popularity.
Myocaca, for the most part, develops economically. Its lands are becoming more heavily worked and productive, and new ports are opening up for trade with Guangfei and the south. However, the new naval trade has yet to pick up greatly.
(+1 New Region)
Resistance in the occupied region of New Veritas has been largely stomped out by Myocaca. Oneists there behave better, for fear that the Swades will be called in to ‘deal with them’.
The Swade Ascendancy has undergone the most drastic war preparations of all time. Over 100 000 men have been brought into the army. While raising a huge force for the Swades, it has almost instantly caused massive economic damage and famine.
(-2 Regions, -3 Economic Points for Next Update, -1 Confidence)
Throughout the nation, a new doctrine is being circulated by the government of Evern III Wilipi. It reads as follows:
The Bladeists were quick to act in response to the Doctrine. All of the remaining Oneists in New Veritas were put to death. The same happened in Sintonia and Myocacan New Veritas, though the same army was responsible every time.
At the same time, a fleet was sent to invade Exilsium. For reasons not yet understood the fleet managed to evade all Valin observers until only two days before it landed.
The first landing was made at the city of Falas, where most of the defenses had been prepared. Several cavalry charges destroyed the first few waves of attack, but they eventually tired and the Swades established a beachhead. As more and more troops poured in, the situation became untenable and the army and population fled northwards.
The second landing took place at the southwestern tip of Exilsium. It quickly advanced with virtually no resistance, purging all civilian life they saw. Their first battle was against a tiny militia at Solin, and it was a massive Bladeist victory. The city was purged, and rechristened as ‘Afettoh’, the base of operations for the invasion. Troops began advancing northwards towards Pax.
Here, the offensive stalled. Huge numbers of militia volunteered for Veritas, and defenses were set up at Danalas and in the mountains. Exilsium still stands, though its existence is tenuous.
(-10 000 Swade Conscript Swordsmen, -1000 Swordsmen of Divine Enlightenment, -1000 Urban Militia, -1000 Pelarioi, -a bunch of Civilian Militia)
Another attack struck at the beating heart of the Valin people- the ancient and holy city of Veritas itself. The attack came at night. The defenses there were minimal as Xenophon’s forces were on the mainland, and the enemy fleet was mostly underwater in the Kehexou Archipelago.
A beachhead was established outside of the city, and then, just before dawn, they attacked.
Pouring through the streets of the city, they raided into every house, indiscriminately slaughtering everyone they saw. Many were, in fact, not even Oneist, but Aegyptian settlers, as they later discovered. Fires were lit, and ancient monuments destroyed and defiled.
Resistance groups fought against the invaders for several days, but were eventually killed off. At the end of a week, Veritas was a smoking ruin. There were no known survivors.
At this point, a ship of Swade priests and engineers arrived, to begin building a monument to Bladeism at the holiest point of their enemy. The sack of Redemption pales in comparison to this.
(-City of Veritas, -10 000 Swade Conscript Swordsmen)
Finally came one of the most unexpected actions. Military incursions into Myocaca proper. It was quickly revealed not to be an invasion per se, but an action designed to kill all of Myocaca’s Oneist population.
Regardless, Myocaca was infuriated. It didn’t take any official action, but many of its people acted out of compassion for the Emorans and helped them to escape. Many fled to Aryie and the Qingdao region of Guangfei, others fled northwards to Veritas, Khemri, and Kalmar. One group even established itself in a chaotic region of southeastern Gorin.
Ultimately, the Swades succeeded in their written goal: Get rid of the Myocacan Oneists. However, they have brought international criticism and disdain to themselves for their actions, and may have just lost their only true friend in the world.
(Myocaca’s Oneist Population Disperses)
Aryie has grown into a well-developed city-state. It has become a center of peaceful thinking, philosophy, and prosperity, a ‘Island of Peace in a Sea of Chaos’. However, it is being constantly pressured by the Swades to kill off all of its Oneists. Locals recommend the construction of city defenses sometime in the future.
(+Karholm Cultural Center)
Sintonia has settled down, and was preparing to have a peaceful and productive relationship with the Oneists in their territory until the Swades arrived and killed them all.
(-1 Economic Point Next turn)
Guarela and Gerougia hear vague rumours of events to the north, and both privately note that they will never let this happen in their own lands. Both nations expand slowly, quietly and peacefully.
Guangfei has continued its post-war state of prosperity. The Statues of Jianking have been rebuilt from rubble.
(+Jianking restored as Religious Center)
Guangfei also begins a national census (quite the tricky job) and opens the Imperial Academies of Science and Medicine. Roads have been built to Qingdao from Hangshei, perfectly timed, as people were about to start asking for one. Criminals, deserters, and general undesirables were the constructors of the road, as per Guangfei tradition. The road quality in the Dadong mountains, however, remains in question.
Friendly relations have been established with Rozan, and inquiries have been made into its history. They were a Trinlinist tribe in competition with several others, and one generation ago a great leader named Cozair led the Rozan to victory over their enemies and to nationhood.
Guangfei has established a ban of Bladeist missionaries in the country, and has instated a ‘Bladeist Tax’, where they have to pay huge amounts of their income to the government, plus all of their children after their firstborn.
In Shangei, a new faith known as ‘Tzu’ as appeared. Little detail is known of it by most outsiders, but it appears to be a monotheistic extrapolation of traditional Guangfei and Shangei beliefs.
Guangfei's campaign against the Bladeist protostates has come to its completion. They were weakened earlier, and no help reached them from outside. A quick strike against each of them was
(-500 Ma Bing, -1000 Recruits)
Magland and Destre remain peaceful, and expand towards the frozen ices of the south.
At this time, we can see great shifts taking place around the world. The Oneist nations are almost universally in a state of decline. Gorin is on the verge of collapsing into anarchy, being torn in several directions simultaneously. Khemri remains powerful, and has managed to reassert control in the constant war for naval dominance. The Bladeists are more powerful now than ever, but can it be sustained?
Finally, a strange illness has recently appeared in Swade territory. It quickly spread to Myocaca, just as the Emorans were evacuating the country… it remains to be seen whether they have brought the illness with them. We shall see soon enough.
Notes:
Most people who called up levees, conscripts, volunteers etc: Your guys were part of the update, I just didn’t mention them statistically. If they are in the stats, it means that there’s something distinguishing about them, like the fact that they have been given some training by the government or are better-organized.
The area of southeastern Gorin which is white is not rebelling, the government simply doesn’t exist there, due to Teos’ campaign. It will require only a few token troops or settlers to reestablish control of the area.
No, neither the Free City of Tigot nor the Nkondi rebels have stats. Tigot is too weak to even make it worthwhile. Assume every number is ‘0’. As for Nkondi, they should be rebellion white, but I wanted to distinguish them from the Lengel rebels.
Heheh, I love the butterfly effect. So many side wars caused because Veritas wanted its homeland back.
I picture the Yetis looking like the Yetis from Zoo Tycoon, if any of you ever played that game: About 10 feet tall, gangly, pot-bellied, hairy every where except parts of the foot, hands, part of the chest, and face. The exposed skin is bluish in colour.
Anyone ever been down the inside passage? Skagway, Alaska to Seattle, Oregon. Lots of fjords, semitropical foliage, foggy… that’s how I picture the area around Kehexou to be.
Geddex is the island to the southeast of the Island of Alaxau (Religious Center). The northern island you see on the closeup map is one that’s too small to be shown on the world map.
Possible PoD of the Update: Poorly-Made Chains
EDIT: BTW, the scale on the map is 1 cm : 100 m
Such is the state of the northern portion of the War of the White Rose, and the various wars spawned because of it. Now, for the southern portion:
The first act in the war in the south was the Blockade of the Kehex Sea by Veritas and Ardan. Khemri’s fleet retreated before them, making no attempts to engage them. The Oneist navy continued its cautious advance further into the sea, and sent a small force up the lower Wardash to harass Khemri’s supply routes in Old Veritas.
Shortly after the move up the Wardash, Veritas made its first major move. Landings were simultaneously made at Dysonis and Andama. The local Khemri commander received word at Dysonis, but information from Andama was delayed, presumably due to White Rose agents causing trouble for Khemri’s messenger system.
The force at Dysonis was quickly annihilated, possibly helped to the large Khemri civilian presence in the area. However, the northern force was given a chance to establish, and was reinforced by the Kalmar forces and volunteers who had deserted during The Void’s loyalty check shortly before.
The Khemri commander’s numerically superior force arrived a few days after their victory at Dysonis. The two armies met between Lux and Andama, just outside of a small village named Terias. The battle was roughly equal at first. Veritas’ lighter and more mobile force attempted to flank or outmaneuver Khemri’s stronger but generally less mobile troops (with the exception of the Horse Archers, of course). Veritas revealed its new secret weapon a few minutes into the battle. Colossal, hairy beasts twice as tall as a man, with long gangly arms, deadly blades and maces strapped to each. This group of Yeti, dubbed ‘White Ghosts’, were massive creatures from the wastes north of Norvalin were horrifically powerful shock troopers. After losing fighters to them and nearly losing control of their fearful force, Khemri began to fight back logically. Becoming injured, several Yeti went berserk, as often against the Valins as against Khemri. Still quite early in the battle, 7 of the Yeti had been killed in their frenzies, and one had fled the battle. Two proved to be calm, and continued to fight alongside their masters.
As the fighting ground on, Khemri’s advantage of numbers became larger and larger. Until, without warning, a new attack hit Khemri’s rear.
Stratikrator Xenophon, who had managed to escape from his previous defeat, led a mixed force of over 11 000 in a huge assault.
Khemri’s Royal Guards clashed with thousands of Urban Militia and mixed Valin cavalry and infantry. Horse Archers were sent in sweeping moves to take out many of the more lightly-defended Militia.
Once again, the battle was equal. Too equal. Thousands of men were dropping on both sides, but neither was backing down. With one powerful stroke, a charge of Crystal Knights broke apart the landing force from Andama, forcing it to retreat. However, at the same time, Xenophon struck. The weakened force from Khemri wavered, and a blow was struck at its center. Many Crystal Knights got caught in a swarm of infantry and were killed. The remainder of Khemri’s army in the area, not wanting to lose all of Tellium to the Valins, retreated. In their retreat, they collapsed the mines outside of Lux (no one was inside at the time), denying their use to the enemy. Veritas had won the Battle of Terias, but at a horrible cost.
(-14 000 Levees, -3000 Horse Archers, -3000 Royal Guard, -2000 Crystal Knights, -6000 Urban Militia, -2000 Rose Knights, -1000 Palantoi, -2500 Scimitari, -500 Latismen, -1000 Pelarioi, -8 Yeti)
Meanwhile, the Oneist fleet made a move into the Kehexou archipelago. Whether by accident or elaborate plan, it collided with a large part of Khemri’s fleet in a narrow straight. Clearly not wanting a fight in such a situation, the Khemri admiral fled, only engaging a few aggressive Valin galleys. The Oneist fleet gave pursuit. Several distractions left by Khemri’s fleet delayed their pursuers, but Veritas and Ardan caught up. Khemri’s fleet, nearly out of the archipelago, split up. One part escaped into the open ocean, but another took a wrong turn, and found itself trapped in a bay. Sending out some ships to pursue, a large portion of the Oneist fleet advanced on the trapped Khemri vessels.
Then, in an instant, the predator became the prey.
Great chains rose out of the water, trapping a large number of Oneist ships. Many hit raised chains and suffered huge damage to the rigging. Others hit in the hull and bounced off, or cracked.
With a large part of the fleet trapped, the chains began to close in on each other, forcing the ships into each other. Some looking around revealed ramids on the shorelines attached to the chains, pulling them tighter at the encouragement of their handlers. Now was when Khemri’s ‘fleeing’ fleet returned and began to attack the Oneists.
With much of their fleet caught in a constricting trap, the Oneists’ 2:1 numerical advantage was practically reversed. Khemri’s smaller vessels engaged many of the free Oneist ships, while trebuchets hidden on the shore and other siege weapons on Tridents bombarded the trapped ships.
Due to taking place in such a contained space, the battle quickly became a dense, chaotic place. This proved to be an advantage for the Oneists, who had trained many of their forces for marine warfare. They also managed to deal major damage with their fire galleys, which Khemri was unable to maneuver away from in many cases.
While Khemri and Veritas battled outside of the bay, the Khemri force inside the bay was working to destroy the Valins as fast as possible. They had immobilized and seriously damaged many ships. Forces on the shore and quick work by the Ramids had made landings on the shoreline nearly impossible, though the Valins made many spirited attempts.
Eventually, the trapped ships were all destroyed by long-range bombardment, though their archers and ship-based siege weapons managed to do some damage to their attackers. With most of the Oneist fleet sunk, the chains were lowered and the two Khemri forces were able to reunite and drive off the surviving enemies.
The Battle of Geddex (as the island which held the bay which the battle took place in is named) was the largest and costliest naval battle ever to occur up to this point. 255 ships in total were involved, and all but 65 would never sail again. It was a victory for Khemri, but one of horrific costs.
(-20 Khemri Bimarines, -20 Tridents, -30 Galleys, -45 Davian (Ardanese, UoA, whatever) Jyuphia, -50 Veritasian Septaremes, -10 Triremes, -15 Galleys, -1000 Scimitari, -1000 Latismen)
However, the Oneists did get a weak last laugh. The Davian fleet raced for Khadon after its defeat, bringing the surviving Valins with them, and wrecked havoc on the docks of Khadon before fleeing when Khemri’s River fleet came to confront them. Their bold raid caused a temporary shock in Khemri, as it caused people to believe that their fleet had been defeated. However, celebrations broke out throughout the Kingdom when word reached them of the truth.
(+Khemri Confidence)
Skilv’so continues on, unbothered by external events ‘on the other ocean’. The religions of Otornosiasm and Masra grow in popularity.
Myocaca, for the most part, develops economically. Its lands are becoming more heavily worked and productive, and new ports are opening up for trade with Guangfei and the south. However, the new naval trade has yet to pick up greatly.
(+1 New Region)
Resistance in the occupied region of New Veritas has been largely stomped out by Myocaca. Oneists there behave better, for fear that the Swades will be called in to ‘deal with them’.
The Swade Ascendancy has undergone the most drastic war preparations of all time. Over 100 000 men have been brought into the army. While raising a huge force for the Swades, it has almost instantly caused massive economic damage and famine.
(-2 Regions, -3 Economic Points for Next Update, -1 Confidence)
Throughout the nation, a new doctrine is being circulated by the government of Evern III Wilipi. It reads as follows:
Extinction Doctrine said:
The Bladeists were quick to act in response to the Doctrine. All of the remaining Oneists in New Veritas were put to death. The same happened in Sintonia and Myocacan New Veritas, though the same army was responsible every time.
At the same time, a fleet was sent to invade Exilsium. For reasons not yet understood the fleet managed to evade all Valin observers until only two days before it landed.
The first landing was made at the city of Falas, where most of the defenses had been prepared. Several cavalry charges destroyed the first few waves of attack, but they eventually tired and the Swades established a beachhead. As more and more troops poured in, the situation became untenable and the army and population fled northwards.
The second landing took place at the southwestern tip of Exilsium. It quickly advanced with virtually no resistance, purging all civilian life they saw. Their first battle was against a tiny militia at Solin, and it was a massive Bladeist victory. The city was purged, and rechristened as ‘Afettoh’, the base of operations for the invasion. Troops began advancing northwards towards Pax.
Here, the offensive stalled. Huge numbers of militia volunteered for Veritas, and defenses were set up at Danalas and in the mountains. Exilsium still stands, though its existence is tenuous.
(-10 000 Swade Conscript Swordsmen, -1000 Swordsmen of Divine Enlightenment, -1000 Urban Militia, -1000 Pelarioi, -a bunch of Civilian Militia)
Another attack struck at the beating heart of the Valin people- the ancient and holy city of Veritas itself. The attack came at night. The defenses there were minimal as Xenophon’s forces were on the mainland, and the enemy fleet was mostly underwater in the Kehexou Archipelago.
A beachhead was established outside of the city, and then, just before dawn, they attacked.
Pouring through the streets of the city, they raided into every house, indiscriminately slaughtering everyone they saw. Many were, in fact, not even Oneist, but Aegyptian settlers, as they later discovered. Fires were lit, and ancient monuments destroyed and defiled.
Resistance groups fought against the invaders for several days, but were eventually killed off. At the end of a week, Veritas was a smoking ruin. There were no known survivors.
At this point, a ship of Swade priests and engineers arrived, to begin building a monument to Bladeism at the holiest point of their enemy. The sack of Redemption pales in comparison to this.
(-City of Veritas, -10 000 Swade Conscript Swordsmen)
Finally came one of the most unexpected actions. Military incursions into Myocaca proper. It was quickly revealed not to be an invasion per se, but an action designed to kill all of Myocaca’s Oneist population.
Regardless, Myocaca was infuriated. It didn’t take any official action, but many of its people acted out of compassion for the Emorans and helped them to escape. Many fled to Aryie and the Qingdao region of Guangfei, others fled northwards to Veritas, Khemri, and Kalmar. One group even established itself in a chaotic region of southeastern Gorin.
Ultimately, the Swades succeeded in their written goal: Get rid of the Myocacan Oneists. However, they have brought international criticism and disdain to themselves for their actions, and may have just lost their only true friend in the world.
(Myocaca’s Oneist Population Disperses)
Aryie has grown into a well-developed city-state. It has become a center of peaceful thinking, philosophy, and prosperity, a ‘Island of Peace in a Sea of Chaos’. However, it is being constantly pressured by the Swades to kill off all of its Oneists. Locals recommend the construction of city defenses sometime in the future.
(+Karholm Cultural Center)
Sintonia has settled down, and was preparing to have a peaceful and productive relationship with the Oneists in their territory until the Swades arrived and killed them all.
(-1 Economic Point Next turn)
Guarela and Gerougia hear vague rumours of events to the north, and both privately note that they will never let this happen in their own lands. Both nations expand slowly, quietly and peacefully.
Guangfei has continued its post-war state of prosperity. The Statues of Jianking have been rebuilt from rubble.
(+Jianking restored as Religious Center)
Guangfei also begins a national census (quite the tricky job) and opens the Imperial Academies of Science and Medicine. Roads have been built to Qingdao from Hangshei, perfectly timed, as people were about to start asking for one. Criminals, deserters, and general undesirables were the constructors of the road, as per Guangfei tradition. The road quality in the Dadong mountains, however, remains in question.
Friendly relations have been established with Rozan, and inquiries have been made into its history. They were a Trinlinist tribe in competition with several others, and one generation ago a great leader named Cozair led the Rozan to victory over their enemies and to nationhood.
Guangfei has established a ban of Bladeist missionaries in the country, and has instated a ‘Bladeist Tax’, where they have to pay huge amounts of their income to the government, plus all of their children after their firstborn.
In Shangei, a new faith known as ‘Tzu’ as appeared. Little detail is known of it by most outsiders, but it appears to be a monotheistic extrapolation of traditional Guangfei and Shangei beliefs.
Guangfei's campaign against the Bladeist protostates has come to its completion. They were weakened earlier, and no help reached them from outside. A quick strike against each of them was
(-500 Ma Bing, -1000 Recruits)
Magland and Destre remain peaceful, and expand towards the frozen ices of the south.
At this time, we can see great shifts taking place around the world. The Oneist nations are almost universally in a state of decline. Gorin is on the verge of collapsing into anarchy, being torn in several directions simultaneously. Khemri remains powerful, and has managed to reassert control in the constant war for naval dominance. The Bladeists are more powerful now than ever, but can it be sustained?
Finally, a strange illness has recently appeared in Swade territory. It quickly spread to Myocaca, just as the Emorans were evacuating the country… it remains to be seen whether they have brought the illness with them. We shall see soon enough.
Notes:
Most people who called up levees, conscripts, volunteers etc: Your guys were part of the update, I just didn’t mention them statistically. If they are in the stats, it means that there’s something distinguishing about them, like the fact that they have been given some training by the government or are better-organized.
The area of southeastern Gorin which is white is not rebelling, the government simply doesn’t exist there, due to Teos’ campaign. It will require only a few token troops or settlers to reestablish control of the area.
No, neither the Free City of Tigot nor the Nkondi rebels have stats. Tigot is too weak to even make it worthwhile. Assume every number is ‘0’. As for Nkondi, they should be rebellion white, but I wanted to distinguish them from the Lengel rebels.
Heheh, I love the butterfly effect. So many side wars caused because Veritas wanted its homeland back.
I picture the Yetis looking like the Yetis from Zoo Tycoon, if any of you ever played that game: About 10 feet tall, gangly, pot-bellied, hairy every where except parts of the foot, hands, part of the chest, and face. The exposed skin is bluish in colour.
Anyone ever been down the inside passage? Skagway, Alaska to Seattle, Oregon. Lots of fjords, semitropical foliage, foggy… that’s how I picture the area around Kehexou to be.
Geddex is the island to the southeast of the Island of Alaxau (Religious Center). The northern island you see on the closeup map is one that’s too small to be shown on the world map.
Possible PoD of the Update: Poorly-Made Chains
EDIT: BTW, the scale on the map is 1 cm : 100 m
Kentharu
Zebra Commander
AHHHHHHH AWESOME UPDATE!! *goes crazy*
From the Gorinese Empire
To Merhia
Surrender and you and your Lengel brothers will not be harmed any further.
To the Lengel Rebellion
Surrender and the Lord Kaiser will assure the safety of your people from the group that seek your destruction. The leaders of your rebellion will surrender themselves to the Empire to ensure this.
To the Nkondi
Surrender, and the Nkondi people will not be harmed. Your leaders will give themselves up to the Gorinese Empire immediately though, in order to ensure this.
From the Gorinese Empire
To Merhia
Surrender and you and your Lengel brothers will not be harmed any further.
To the Lengel Rebellion
Surrender and the Lord Kaiser will assure the safety of your people from the group that seek your destruction. The leaders of your rebellion will surrender themselves to the Empire to ensure this.
To the Nkondi
Surrender, and the Nkondi people will not be harmed. Your leaders will give themselves up to the Gorinese Empire immediately though, in order to ensure this.
~Darkening~
Weep, Mother.
*sigh*
At least I sacked Gorin. Nevertheless, great update Iggy. Just a bit annoyed about Kalmar. Thanks Panda!
Never surrender!
At least I sacked Gorin. Nevertheless, great update Iggy. Just a bit annoyed about Kalmar. Thanks Panda!
Never surrender!
Oruc
Reactionary
twas a good update.
But did my diplomats and missionairies reach chancotol and Sanx? I converted some people in Tuatha but none in the others and im unsure if they translated their languages
And did the exchange of missionaries take place between Banism and Ezamri.
Is the Citadel still blockading me? I have no idea
But did my diplomats and missionairies reach chancotol and Sanx? I converted some people in Tuatha but none in the others and im unsure if they translated their languages
And did the exchange of missionaries take place between Banism and Ezamri.
Is the Citadel still blockading me? I have no idea
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Wubba360
Emperor
To: Swade
From: Myocaca
You foolish man! I curse you forever. You will burn in the fires of hell for your deed. A duty of a king is to protect not kill. I proclaim, all oneists who formally lived in myocaca are guaranteed absolute protection in our lands. You will be granted back your homes and reinbursed. One of my generals is a oneist and he led an attack upon the Veritas scum. You are blind. You point fingers at enemies. All Swade are banished from Myocaca forever. All the clergy sent back in boxes. Myocaca from this day forth cannot follow murderers. As Archbishop of the church I do not declare war on Swade, our alliance will be sustained, but in terms of your presence in my country you are banned. Fight me if you will, but you are pathetic. You killed lives who fought beside myocacans for years. Leave now!!!!
From: Myocaca
You foolish man! I curse you forever. You will burn in the fires of hell for your deed. A duty of a king is to protect not kill. I proclaim, all oneists who formally lived in myocaca are guaranteed absolute protection in our lands. You will be granted back your homes and reinbursed. One of my generals is a oneist and he led an attack upon the Veritas scum. You are blind. You point fingers at enemies. All Swade are banished from Myocaca forever. All the clergy sent back in boxes. Myocaca from this day forth cannot follow murderers. As Archbishop of the church I do not declare war on Swade, our alliance will be sustained, but in terms of your presence in my country you are banned. Fight me if you will, but you are pathetic. You killed lives who fought beside myocacans for years. Leave now!!!!
Wubba360
Emperor
Rogalius Dorn stood, his horse at his side, and his soldiers beside him. The village was in flames. Dead lay everywhere. They had been a part of a caravan headed out west to the newly opened lands. They had been slaughtered. The small ramids lay dead the wagon and its contents burned.
Dorn noticed a dead soldier, Swade. "Atleast they gave them some type of fight."
Dorn still remembered the day the message had come. The day the world was turned upside down. The King had received the message had come. With disbelief the Swade guard had entered the palace grabbing oneist officials.
General Dorn had lifted his guard but the priest ordered him to place down his weapons. "You must allow us to purge these heretics. They seek to undermine your king and all others."
"But this is madness!"
"It is the will of the Blademaster."
"No it is the will of some king or council. This is Myocaca not Swade. Gt out of here."
"Your King seems to have no problem with this."
"My lord allow me to escort these mad men out of here. Sir!"
The King spoke, "Rogalius, calm yourself. There is nothing I can do."
"Yes there is. You must find a way!"
"I can't." The King's head slouched his body went limp. His goblet fell from his hand. Rogalius ran up to try and wake his lord. As he heard the screaming all around him, he cried.
---------------------------------------------------
Five weeks later the King was still sick. Unable to do anything. Rogalius was head general but he would not dare leave the King's side. General Sunez walked in.
"I just returned from sea, What is going on here."
"You must leave...you are oneist, they will kill you..."
"Rogalius get up! You cannot be in this dark room, our lord has his family to comfort him, in the meantime we must run the country, it is the only way. Now tell me what is going on!"
"They are killing all oneists."
"Who is they?"
"Swade, but how can we stand against them."
"How many are left?"
"I don't know, most have fled, Swithrine managed to transport most out of harms way. Perhaps 2000 are left who knows."
"Where are they? You must tell me."
Most went to Aronellia, but they aren't safe there, a massive army is marching there soon."
"Come... I will gather my army of Yu-Yan. We are going there."
"What do you expect to do, fight Swade"
"Yes Rogalius, that is exactly what I expect to do. The King will wake up, and when he does he will know that two of his generals died to defend his people. And he will know something must be done. He will know Swade actions cannot be tolerated. The Bladeist Civil War is near my friend. We will not see its end, but we will begin it."
"You want to start a civil war."
"We have not innitiated this conflict, Swade has, they have spilt needless blood. I cannot tolerate it. My people have been persecuted, but in MYocaca we found sanctuary and Swade has openly violated Myocaca sovereignty. It cannot be tolerated. It will end in bloodshed as it has started. Thousands will be killed, but hundreds of years of death will come to an end now my friend. War comes now. We will do what Myocaca should have done at its creation. Fight back and fight for freedom. I know I will die, and you do not have to join me, but promise me that you will not allow this to be forgotten. Let all know that 2500 oneists gave their last breath to defend freedom and Myocaca"
Grasping Sunez's shoulder Rogalius siad, "Kill for the living..."
"And kill for the dead"
"We will meet again, and then we will have a good drink."
"If I kill the most swadist bastard you are paying."
"I'll see you on the battlefield." Sunez walked out of the room. No one knew it yet but a declaration of war had been signed.
Dorn noticed a dead soldier, Swade. "Atleast they gave them some type of fight."
Dorn still remembered the day the message had come. The day the world was turned upside down. The King had received the message had come. With disbelief the Swade guard had entered the palace grabbing oneist officials.
General Dorn had lifted his guard but the priest ordered him to place down his weapons. "You must allow us to purge these heretics. They seek to undermine your king and all others."
"But this is madness!"
"It is the will of the Blademaster."
"No it is the will of some king or council. This is Myocaca not Swade. Gt out of here."
"Your King seems to have no problem with this."
"My lord allow me to escort these mad men out of here. Sir!"
The King spoke, "Rogalius, calm yourself. There is nothing I can do."
"Yes there is. You must find a way!"
"I can't." The King's head slouched his body went limp. His goblet fell from his hand. Rogalius ran up to try and wake his lord. As he heard the screaming all around him, he cried.
---------------------------------------------------
Five weeks later the King was still sick. Unable to do anything. Rogalius was head general but he would not dare leave the King's side. General Sunez walked in.
"I just returned from sea, What is going on here."
"You must leave...you are oneist, they will kill you..."
"Rogalius get up! You cannot be in this dark room, our lord has his family to comfort him, in the meantime we must run the country, it is the only way. Now tell me what is going on!"
"They are killing all oneists."
"Who is they?"
"Swade, but how can we stand against them."
"How many are left?"
"I don't know, most have fled, Swithrine managed to transport most out of harms way. Perhaps 2000 are left who knows."
"Where are they? You must tell me."
Most went to Aronellia, but they aren't safe there, a massive army is marching there soon."
"Come... I will gather my army of Yu-Yan. We are going there."
"What do you expect to do, fight Swade"
"Yes Rogalius, that is exactly what I expect to do. The King will wake up, and when he does he will know that two of his generals died to defend his people. And he will know something must be done. He will know Swade actions cannot be tolerated. The Bladeist Civil War is near my friend. We will not see its end, but we will begin it."
"You want to start a civil war."
"We have not innitiated this conflict, Swade has, they have spilt needless blood. I cannot tolerate it. My people have been persecuted, but in MYocaca we found sanctuary and Swade has openly violated Myocaca sovereignty. It cannot be tolerated. It will end in bloodshed as it has started. Thousands will be killed, but hundreds of years of death will come to an end now my friend. War comes now. We will do what Myocaca should have done at its creation. Fight back and fight for freedom. I know I will die, and you do not have to join me, but promise me that you will not allow this to be forgotten. Let all know that 2500 oneists gave their last breath to defend freedom and Myocaca"
Grasping Sunez's shoulder Rogalius siad, "Kill for the living..."
"And kill for the dead"
"We will meet again, and then we will have a good drink."
"If I kill the most swadist bastard you are paying."
"I'll see you on the battlefield." Sunez walked out of the room. No one knew it yet but a declaration of war had been signed.
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
Officially claiming Magland.
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