LINESII- Into the Darkness- Part III
- Thread starter Lord_Iggy
- Start date
It's settleable, just a harsh climate. There's coniferous forest.
Your area is actually very similar to British Columbia and Alberta (colder than the US equivalents)... prairies on one side, mountains, then rich, northern rainforest coastline.
Insane_Panda
Deity
My apologies, Iggy, but it seems I must resign. I was hoping to do some good things with Kalmar, but two NESes appears to be my limit (Thlayli's and Azale's).
~Darkening~
Weep, Mother.
*“And there will be no more blood tears, no more aching deaths, and no more dreadful fear in these lands. The Way of Order will rise again, and with the coming of the One, peace will reign supreme once more upon this ground. He-that-exists-Above will take his brethren to the White Land, and there will be plenty for his Faithful to subsist upon. Hail the coming of the Holy One!”*
The boy stood rooted in the courtyard, a look of pure terror plastered on his youthful face. Around him people were screaming, falling to the ground in convulsing manners. The boy stood rooted in the middle of the flaming city, stuck in motion as if an eternal statue. Around him, the city burned as the invaders burned their bloody paths through the White City. Around him its people died, collapsing on the ground with sickening screams. And around him, the world continued to capsize in a continuous parade of destruction.
The boy stood in the middle of the White City, staring helplessly as the city boiled in turmoil around him.. The city spanned the ashen horizon, once blanketing the region in a grand masquerade. Thick, ivory walls, with strands of ivory lining on the walls, ran around the city and interlined the winding lanes of the Holy City. Temples rose out off the lined streets and yearned towards the sky with their pure marble columns. The Holy City of the One preserved as it had always done, the Beacon of Tellus.
Now the temples had been serenely violated, their columns thrown upon the ground, smoldering underneath the red sky. It had come from nowhere, the attack upon the Holy City. One minute that calm peace had ruled over the city as it had always done, the next moment all hell had replaced as the city was bombarded by the flaming arsenal. Beset by unknown forces, huge flaming chunks had been catapulted into the city, lighting the dusking sky before crashing into the city.
The bombardment had gone on forever as it seemed to the boy. He stood rooted to the ground as blasts struck the ground around his body, an undying horror dwelling within his stone body. He peered out of those green eyes as the very vanguard of Oneism was violated; the very beacon of his faith was marched upon and determinedly sacked. He watched in dismay as the city was repeatedly struck by the infinite number of projectiles. Finally, after the citizens of the White City had been struck down, and its temples desecrated, the bombardment ceased and the drums boiled in the distance.
The dull thuds rang as thunder in his marble cast ears. Thousands of leagues away, the invaders pounded their animal-mesh drums in rhythm as they prepared their final assault upon the Holy City. The boy had seen the way the city had been reduced to rubble as the invaders prepared their assault, how the walls had been smashed apart by the projectiles and how the citizens had been slain on the ground. Now he watched as the remaining citizens gathered around his form and prepared their own absolute defense of the City.
In front of his marble eyes, the boy watched as the men were changed into something else, something definitely not man. Beings cast of the holy light, their bodies shone with a passion unknown to mortal men and resonated with a aura of radiance behind them.. The stood as tall as a man, but they were much more slender than the stocky beasts that resided upon the ground. They wore pure ivory robes, cast from the plainest material. The Beings gathered around the central courtyard, around the single temple that had managed to avoid the fiery destruction.
The invaders marched through the city, taking no opposition from the corpses that littered the ground. Hellish beasts, the invaders took their form from the darkest thread of the world and seemed to possess an aura to rival the Beings in every level. They stood taller than any man that had ever roamed Tellus bellow, and were twice as wide as the common man. They wore no clothing, parading as they had been created. Three twisted horns jutted up from their skulls, evenly spread in a triangular fashion. A scowl was born upon all of their faces, and their lust for war and death had manifested itself.
They marched unopposed to the center of the White City, striding over the corpses and crushing their bodies without paying any attention to the snapping sounds. Finally they stopped in their march, surrounding the Citadel with their interminable numbers. They peered at the Beings through the numerous holes torn into the Citadel walls, each one drooling with the desires born into their bodies.
Their leader, a simple man cast from the blackest metals, stood above them all, perched on the ruins of a ransacked temple. He was as much of a man as the bodies that littered their paths into the city, an outcast among his followers. Where the invaders had been cast from the earth, the man had been cast from the strongest metals found in existence. He stood as tall as the Beings, and was slightly thicker. He had no face, a flat surface except where the metal sloped in and formed two very thin eye slits. Red light filtered through the slit and completed his iconic figure.
The man gave the Beings no chance to surrender; with the wave of thick hand he sent the waves spurting through the holes in the walls. A shout came from the Beings, a romantic cry for life, as they lowered their spears into the onrushing invaders. Some of the invaders, pushed into the points by their numerous brethren following them, perished immediately. The others lived on to raise their crusted axes above their horned heads in a sweeping motion, only to then bring them down upon the Beings’ heads.
A thick wave of white and black blood flew into the air as the forces collided, a mixing wave cascading upon those unfortunate enough to remain alive in the fight. The invaders fought o, pressing their brethren into the awaiting metallic points while waiting to bring their own weapons down. On and on they fought, the Beings slowly forced back to the Marble statue. The Beings fought valiantly, casting three times the invaders back, only to be forced back their selves due to the countless waves. In the end, the fight was never really contested as the Beings were slowly slaughtered to the last one. Finally, after what had seem as an perpetuity to the granite boy, the Beings perished and the invaders gathered around his frozen body.
They jeered at his emerald eyes, as if knowing that a ghost inhabited the iconoclastic figure, but they dared to come no closer. At last, their metallic leader marched his way to the center of the Citadel and stopped in confusion. It was as if he knew there was something there, but couldn’t find the source. The boy held his invisible breath, praying to whatever god that existed. But, as the same luck that had befallen the White City, remained and lurked under his brows.
Their leader marched his way over to the statue, scanning it in great detail before drawing his own sheathed sword. He spoke brittle, a hideous voice ringing out into the fallen silence. “This is what the fool has sent? A mere boy to contest the greatest power that One could not hope to dare touch.” He strode around the statue, eyes slated in a furious demeanor. “The Great Meddler sends a BOY to contend me? Does He think this is a GAME?!” He roared, screaming at the silent statue. “Tell me, you ignorant fool! Why has he sent you to interfere in our game! Why has he sent me this pathetic organism to contend me?! TELL ME!!!”
The Leader strode in a furious circle, panting heavily as if pondering figures the boy could not hope to understand. Around him, the invaders paused and struggled to deal with a broken silence that had been cast. They shifted from one foot to the next, watching impatiently as the Leader strode his circle under the red sky. Finally, after a brief minute, the Leader gathered himself and presented the stoic face to the statue once more.
“Tell your god its time to die.” He simply uttered, before crashing his huge iron sword in the statue and exploding it. Pieces of the statue flew in all directions, shattering as a huge tear ripped down the sky and everything went black.
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“Do not be afraid my child- you are with friends. Take in this peace and rest.” The voice whispered, utterly wrapping itself around the boy. He sighed and felt the deep comfort the force brought, as if he had been brought back to his mother’s side. He fluttered his brows open once more, praising that he finally be given movement back. The boy was in an eternal black void, a single plane stretching in every direction in front of him. And yet, despite knowing there was neither nothing under him or anything above him, the boy was content.
“I do hope you enjoyed your visit to Elehom, didn’t you?” The voice whispered once more. The boy struggled to speak, but realized after a brief moment that it was futile- he had neither the will nor the way to be vocal. “Do not struggle my child- rest in the solemnity of this place; you are quite safe with me.” The voice uttered.
The boy watched in awe as form began to take place in front of his eyes. Out of nothing, the boy watched as a giant yellow disk rose up and shone in front of his eyes. “Do you understand why I projected you to that….’experience’ yet, my child? Do you know why I showed you?” The voice whispered as the world exploded around the boy. Uncountable numbers of white disks suddenly came into existence, shaking off the light provided by the sun.
“No?” The voice whispered as rocky bodies came into existence and the earth formed underneath his feet. The boy watched in awe as the ground solidified and sprang into life, green exploding rapidly across the ground. In another brief second, the huge white walls sprung back up and the city followed suit. The boy marveled as the White City sprang back into life, a thousand fold citizens suddenly bustling through the city.
“What you experience happened eons ago, my son. Since then, I have rebuilt My city and gave birth to my children once more. Life has returned on this planet.” The voice whispered, suddenly becoming more concrete and tangible. The boy watched as a small group of Beings formed around him, all smiling. One of the beings, an old figure cast from the purest whites stepped forwarded and smiled at the boy. “My son, do not fear the future- everything will come full circle. War will come once more and the Leader’s disciples will bring his army back to my gates once more. We will perish again, and I will be forced to rebuild.”
The man smiled, as if showing he was accepting, before continuing. “However, if you can stand strong, there might be a small chance that you may alter this game. I can reveal no more, but I task you with a strong spirit to preserve in the face of oppression, child. Take this experience and ensure our survival.” The man stepped forward and took the boy’s head in his hands. Sighing deeply, he pressed his fingers in the corners of the boy’s eyes, drawing them close and forcing the boy to sleep. “However my child,” the old man whispered as the boy drifted away, “do not fear death- that privilege we share alone. Rather, bring it upon your enemy.”
Without uttering a cry, the boy awoke to the erratic crashing of the ship on the merciless waves and the slow churning of the peaceful congregation. He spoke quietly to the man on his left, dull eyes shining in the pitch blackness of the cabin. “So, it has come to this after all….” The man muttered, sighing slightly as the vapors of sleep set on him once more.
“Indeed, I am afraid it has.” The man said, dark cloak drawn over his head. The ship shook on the crashing waves once more. “Indeed, it has…” He trailed off, slowly chewing on the blistered remains of his upper lip. Finally, after minutes had passed away, the man turned back to the boy. He spoke with a hidden sense of humor in his voice this time, as if passing a secret joke. “My son, your time will come. For now, rest and gather your strength for the storm ahead.”
The boy nodded happily and distantly, before proceeding to lie back upon the small cot, passing back into his restless slumber. Humming gently to himself, the man thumbed through a small collection of parchment before finally stopping at a page. Drawing back his hood, the man smiled through his crisp white teeth at the photo illustrated upon the surface. His hair, thin and silk, hung down in slender sheets of white blond pieces, revealing his jutting forehead. His offset nose framed the odd shape of his head, and gave his face a more prominent character. His eyes were crisp red, a small trail of red liquid pooling in the corners. He sighed with pleasure, gazing down at the beauty that had been given to him.
Beneath the man, plastered on the parchment, the Holy City burned in the Eternal Flames.
The boy stood rooted in the courtyard, a look of pure terror plastered on his youthful face. Around him people were screaming, falling to the ground in convulsing manners. The boy stood rooted in the middle of the flaming city, stuck in motion as if an eternal statue. Around him, the city burned as the invaders burned their bloody paths through the White City. Around him its people died, collapsing on the ground with sickening screams. And around him, the world continued to capsize in a continuous parade of destruction.
The boy stood in the middle of the White City, staring helplessly as the city boiled in turmoil around him.. The city spanned the ashen horizon, once blanketing the region in a grand masquerade. Thick, ivory walls, with strands of ivory lining on the walls, ran around the city and interlined the winding lanes of the Holy City. Temples rose out off the lined streets and yearned towards the sky with their pure marble columns. The Holy City of the One preserved as it had always done, the Beacon of Tellus.
Now the temples had been serenely violated, their columns thrown upon the ground, smoldering underneath the red sky. It had come from nowhere, the attack upon the Holy City. One minute that calm peace had ruled over the city as it had always done, the next moment all hell had replaced as the city was bombarded by the flaming arsenal. Beset by unknown forces, huge flaming chunks had been catapulted into the city, lighting the dusking sky before crashing into the city.
The bombardment had gone on forever as it seemed to the boy. He stood rooted to the ground as blasts struck the ground around his body, an undying horror dwelling within his stone body. He peered out of those green eyes as the very vanguard of Oneism was violated; the very beacon of his faith was marched upon and determinedly sacked. He watched in dismay as the city was repeatedly struck by the infinite number of projectiles. Finally, after the citizens of the White City had been struck down, and its temples desecrated, the bombardment ceased and the drums boiled in the distance.
The dull thuds rang as thunder in his marble cast ears. Thousands of leagues away, the invaders pounded their animal-mesh drums in rhythm as they prepared their final assault upon the Holy City. The boy had seen the way the city had been reduced to rubble as the invaders prepared their assault, how the walls had been smashed apart by the projectiles and how the citizens had been slain on the ground. Now he watched as the remaining citizens gathered around his form and prepared their own absolute defense of the City.
In front of his marble eyes, the boy watched as the men were changed into something else, something definitely not man. Beings cast of the holy light, their bodies shone with a passion unknown to mortal men and resonated with a aura of radiance behind them.. The stood as tall as a man, but they were much more slender than the stocky beasts that resided upon the ground. They wore pure ivory robes, cast from the plainest material. The Beings gathered around the central courtyard, around the single temple that had managed to avoid the fiery destruction.
The invaders marched through the city, taking no opposition from the corpses that littered the ground. Hellish beasts, the invaders took their form from the darkest thread of the world and seemed to possess an aura to rival the Beings in every level. They stood taller than any man that had ever roamed Tellus bellow, and were twice as wide as the common man. They wore no clothing, parading as they had been created. Three twisted horns jutted up from their skulls, evenly spread in a triangular fashion. A scowl was born upon all of their faces, and their lust for war and death had manifested itself.
They marched unopposed to the center of the White City, striding over the corpses and crushing their bodies without paying any attention to the snapping sounds. Finally they stopped in their march, surrounding the Citadel with their interminable numbers. They peered at the Beings through the numerous holes torn into the Citadel walls, each one drooling with the desires born into their bodies.
Their leader, a simple man cast from the blackest metals, stood above them all, perched on the ruins of a ransacked temple. He was as much of a man as the bodies that littered their paths into the city, an outcast among his followers. Where the invaders had been cast from the earth, the man had been cast from the strongest metals found in existence. He stood as tall as the Beings, and was slightly thicker. He had no face, a flat surface except where the metal sloped in and formed two very thin eye slits. Red light filtered through the slit and completed his iconic figure.
The man gave the Beings no chance to surrender; with the wave of thick hand he sent the waves spurting through the holes in the walls. A shout came from the Beings, a romantic cry for life, as they lowered their spears into the onrushing invaders. Some of the invaders, pushed into the points by their numerous brethren following them, perished immediately. The others lived on to raise their crusted axes above their horned heads in a sweeping motion, only to then bring them down upon the Beings’ heads.
A thick wave of white and black blood flew into the air as the forces collided, a mixing wave cascading upon those unfortunate enough to remain alive in the fight. The invaders fought o, pressing their brethren into the awaiting metallic points while waiting to bring their own weapons down. On and on they fought, the Beings slowly forced back to the Marble statue. The Beings fought valiantly, casting three times the invaders back, only to be forced back their selves due to the countless waves. In the end, the fight was never really contested as the Beings were slowly slaughtered to the last one. Finally, after what had seem as an perpetuity to the granite boy, the Beings perished and the invaders gathered around his frozen body.
They jeered at his emerald eyes, as if knowing that a ghost inhabited the iconoclastic figure, but they dared to come no closer. At last, their metallic leader marched his way to the center of the Citadel and stopped in confusion. It was as if he knew there was something there, but couldn’t find the source. The boy held his invisible breath, praying to whatever god that existed. But, as the same luck that had befallen the White City, remained and lurked under his brows.
Their leader marched his way over to the statue, scanning it in great detail before drawing his own sheathed sword. He spoke brittle, a hideous voice ringing out into the fallen silence. “This is what the fool has sent? A mere boy to contest the greatest power that One could not hope to dare touch.” He strode around the statue, eyes slated in a furious demeanor. “The Great Meddler sends a BOY to contend me? Does He think this is a GAME?!” He roared, screaming at the silent statue. “Tell me, you ignorant fool! Why has he sent you to interfere in our game! Why has he sent me this pathetic organism to contend me?! TELL ME!!!”
The Leader strode in a furious circle, panting heavily as if pondering figures the boy could not hope to understand. Around him, the invaders paused and struggled to deal with a broken silence that had been cast. They shifted from one foot to the next, watching impatiently as the Leader strode his circle under the red sky. Finally, after a brief minute, the Leader gathered himself and presented the stoic face to the statue once more.
“Tell your god its time to die.” He simply uttered, before crashing his huge iron sword in the statue and exploding it. Pieces of the statue flew in all directions, shattering as a huge tear ripped down the sky and everything went black.
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“Do not be afraid my child- you are with friends. Take in this peace and rest.” The voice whispered, utterly wrapping itself around the boy. He sighed and felt the deep comfort the force brought, as if he had been brought back to his mother’s side. He fluttered his brows open once more, praising that he finally be given movement back. The boy was in an eternal black void, a single plane stretching in every direction in front of him. And yet, despite knowing there was neither nothing under him or anything above him, the boy was content.
“I do hope you enjoyed your visit to Elehom, didn’t you?” The voice whispered once more. The boy struggled to speak, but realized after a brief moment that it was futile- he had neither the will nor the way to be vocal. “Do not struggle my child- rest in the solemnity of this place; you are quite safe with me.” The voice uttered.
The boy watched in awe as form began to take place in front of his eyes. Out of nothing, the boy watched as a giant yellow disk rose up and shone in front of his eyes. “Do you understand why I projected you to that….’experience’ yet, my child? Do you know why I showed you?” The voice whispered as the world exploded around the boy. Uncountable numbers of white disks suddenly came into existence, shaking off the light provided by the sun.
“No?” The voice whispered as rocky bodies came into existence and the earth formed underneath his feet. The boy watched in awe as the ground solidified and sprang into life, green exploding rapidly across the ground. In another brief second, the huge white walls sprung back up and the city followed suit. The boy marveled as the White City sprang back into life, a thousand fold citizens suddenly bustling through the city.
“What you experience happened eons ago, my son. Since then, I have rebuilt My city and gave birth to my children once more. Life has returned on this planet.” The voice whispered, suddenly becoming more concrete and tangible. The boy watched as a small group of Beings formed around him, all smiling. One of the beings, an old figure cast from the purest whites stepped forwarded and smiled at the boy. “My son, do not fear the future- everything will come full circle. War will come once more and the Leader’s disciples will bring his army back to my gates once more. We will perish again, and I will be forced to rebuild.”
The man smiled, as if showing he was accepting, before continuing. “However, if you can stand strong, there might be a small chance that you may alter this game. I can reveal no more, but I task you with a strong spirit to preserve in the face of oppression, child. Take this experience and ensure our survival.” The man stepped forward and took the boy’s head in his hands. Sighing deeply, he pressed his fingers in the corners of the boy’s eyes, drawing them close and forcing the boy to sleep. “However my child,” the old man whispered as the boy drifted away, “do not fear death- that privilege we share alone. Rather, bring it upon your enemy.”
Without uttering a cry, the boy awoke to the erratic crashing of the ship on the merciless waves and the slow churning of the peaceful congregation. He spoke quietly to the man on his left, dull eyes shining in the pitch blackness of the cabin. “So, it has come to this after all….” The man muttered, sighing slightly as the vapors of sleep set on him once more.
“Indeed, I am afraid it has.” The man said, dark cloak drawn over his head. The ship shook on the crashing waves once more. “Indeed, it has…” He trailed off, slowly chewing on the blistered remains of his upper lip. Finally, after minutes had passed away, the man turned back to the boy. He spoke with a hidden sense of humor in his voice this time, as if passing a secret joke. “My son, your time will come. For now, rest and gather your strength for the storm ahead.”
The boy nodded happily and distantly, before proceeding to lie back upon the small cot, passing back into his restless slumber. Humming gently to himself, the man thumbed through a small collection of parchment before finally stopping at a page. Drawing back his hood, the man smiled through his crisp white teeth at the photo illustrated upon the surface. His hair, thin and silk, hung down in slender sheets of white blond pieces, revealing his jutting forehead. His offset nose framed the odd shape of his head, and gave his face a more prominent character. His eyes were crisp red, a small trail of red liquid pooling in the corners. He sighed with pleasure, gazing down at the beauty that had been given to him.
Beneath the man, plastered on the parchment, the Holy City burned in the Eternal Flames.
Swissempire
Poet Jester
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
Nice story, Dark.
Update going well, Iggy?
Update going well, Iggy?
jeps
Arcadefire
I am now expecting it. As in, if you don't...
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
j_eps: I have a rough sketch of the map you requested ready for viewing... I'm in the middle of it, but I thought I might present it to you to reap some comments on the map so far. That is, if you're interested?
EDIT: Yeah, yeah. I should've PM'ed this or something.
EDIT: Yeah, yeah. I should've PM'ed this or something.
Update 27- Years 1730 to 1800: The Young and the Mighty
Fulfilling their ancient tradition, Divotheists throughout Azulia celebrated the great Festival of the Gods. However, during this massive event, spiritual celebration would be most tragically interrupted with bloodshed…
The Yathai have continued to explore their area, finding nothing other than endless waves in one direction, and more of the mainland in the other.
Their efforts in the conversion of the locals, however, are starting to go better. Some of the mainlanders are accepting the ways of Mantea, though there are still resisters.
Syracia has launched several expeditions to their north, finding little of interest. The lands north of the mountains are barely arable, though it is possible to eke out a living on them. However, it is suspected that there are many valuable metals and minerals to be found in the barren terrain of the north.
The Syracians also continue to fight against the pirates of Ida’an’i’i. They have withdrawn to a more tenable position, and have destroyed any attackers attempting to land on their new island holdings.
(-500 Axemen, -5 Galleys, +Ida’an’i’i Minority)
However, these good times were not to last. Yaran, Second Emperor of Syracia, was assassinated by people believed to be Divotheist Assasins. This provoked a massive lashing-out against the large Divotheist minority in the country, and ended the royal line of Syracia. The high figures in command were quick to set up a more decentralized and stable command structure, but not before many thousands of Divotheists had been killed. Their bodies were put into mass graves, forever locking them away from the holy sky.
Divotheists everywhere were at first shocked and horrified by the slaughter, then furious. Wherever there was a Divotheist population, there was agitation for war against the ‘soulless atheists’.
Unfortunately for the Divotheist population in Kelios, this greatly annoyed the Alse Government. Many of the agitators were arrested, and suffered a similar fate to the populations in Syracia.
This stopped all of the pro-war actions by Divotheists in Kelios, but it was simply the last straw for the Divotheists. Chancosanx and Tir Tairngire declared war on Kelios, the strongest of the ‘Godless Ones’ and most easy to access.
Syracia immediately pledged 1000 Sparakae to help Kelios’ cause. The war was on.
Justok Nictuma himself led a great force towards the capital. He quickly began to fight the surprisingly well-prepared forces of Kelios. While he had a numerical advantage, his enemies made mincemeat of his large spearman formations. However, Divotheist Cloud Warriors constantly destroyed Kelios’ ambush forces stationed in the mountains.
This offensive stalled just short of the city of Kelios.
Meanwhile, Tuatha forces under the command of Klishin, the son of the aging Chief Kenna, made great progress fighting along Kelios’ coast. He reached Faransir around the same time the Kelios was beginning to halt Nictuma’s advance, and laid siege to the city. Kelios’ forces were limited in the area, though reinforcements were beginning to arrive from the north.
After a brief siege, the hastily-constructed gate of the city was smashed open and the city fell to Klishin’s forces. Few were willing to convert, and all resisters were killed. Klishin’s forces then advanced towards the capital, but were held out of Kelios’ home valley by the increasingly-desperate defenders.
The final offensive didn’t begin until both other fronts had stalled. A Chancosanx force was thrown at the city of Allan. It was repelled by a large force of cavalry, which the Divotheists had no experience fighting against.
However, on the now largely-undefended Tsayan border, barbarians began to pour into northern Kelios. The cavalry forces of Kelios were simply not large enough to fight off two invasions at once. They fought and died, and the city of Allan fell.
However, not all went badly for Kelios in that particular battle. For Miruz Nictuma, heir to the Chancosanx throne, brashly advised the atheist Tsayans to convert to Divotheism, and gave them ‘permission’ to keep the territory they had captured. The infuriated leaders of the Tsayans refused, and declared Chancosanx to be nearly as much of an enemy as Kelios. Chancotol and Tsaya, while now estranged, are still on the same side, though this alliance may fall apart quickly once it is no longer mutually desirable.
Kelios was now besieged from three fronts and the government fled to Mard, should the worst happen- and soon after, it did.
The forces of Justok Nictuma, still strong, well-informed, and well-supplied, broke through Kelios’ mountain defenses. Klishin’s forces broke through in the south soon after. The capital was surrounded and besieged, though it holds out to this day. Leaving their forces to starve the city out, the Divotheists marched eastwards, towards Aldis. However, by now, the Soldiers of the Plow had been raised, the Syracian Sparakae had arrived, and this additional force was enough to finally halt the Divotheist advance.
(-2 EP to Kelios Next Turn, -2000 Kelios Cavalry, -3000 Swordsmen, -1000 Archers, -500 Spearmen, -500 Axemen, -2500 Tuatha Swordsmen, -5000 Chancosanx Spearmen, -1500 Cloud Warriors, -1000 Archers)
While Klishin campaigned against Kelios, his father passed away. Klishin is clearly the most competent commander in Tir Tairngire, but he is also now greatly needed at home.
The Pirian Oneists north of Zamdar and Tir Tairngire continue their expansion, keeping a peaceful and low profile.
The increasingly liberal nation of Zamdar has opened its ports to immigration, portraying itself as a haven for oppressed groups. Many people are still unsure about this nation, but a group of Orthodox Crystalists have come to this nation to give their faith a new start.
After decades of warfare, the War of the White Rose is over. Veritas has retreated from northern Terrania entirely, trading Emor to Khemri for the island of Veritas. However, its plans for war had by no means stopped…
Meanwhile, Arcadia purchased back part of its homeland in Davar, and made peace.
Styatior Vain died of old age in Arcadia, and in the power vacuum after his death, a representative government has been reestablished. Meanwhile, Ardan’s grip on Orum is beginning to slip, as some of the inland regions are falling to Orumo barbarians (those not conquered by Ardan during the original invasion).
Despite the end of war, troubles in Kalmar continue unabated. As mentioned before, Ardan purchased all of the lands east of the Dava (or as the Davians call it, ‘Lunx’
, but the rest of its former territories remained de jure in Kalmar’s hands. The UoA’s government encouraged rebels to emigrate into these western lands, but most refused.
Feeling betrayed by Ardan, the rebels continued their actions on their own. In western Davar, a group calling themselves the ‘Hugions’ after their martyred leader have become the dominant rebel group. In Kerania, Servei Karseyn continued to raise support for his cause, and won several crushing victories over a poorly-coordinated Kalmar offensive.
Then, things began to get really bad for Kalmar. King Vadon II, who had only briefly before declared a new ‘Kalmarsrijk’, was assassinated, presumably by rebels. His son was too young to rule, and factionalism soon split apart the nation. In the midst of this chaos, the rebels established themselves, but squabbled with each other over where their border should be, who should own Strategium, and whether or not the Hugions would get a piece of coastline. Squabbles turned to outright fighting, resulting in the near-collapse of the Hugion movement and Kerania’s gain of several ethnically-Davian areas.
This infighting of the rebels was the salvation of Kalmar. The stewards of young Vadon III won out in the brief Kalmar civil war, and put up a combined front against Kerania, preventing it from regaining all of its former lands.
The areas of influence in the region once encompassed by Kalmar have now apparently calmed. The brilliant General Karseyn has secured a nation for the Keran people, though how long it will last remains unknown. The Hugions have essentially collapsed, leaving much of northwestern Davar in anarchy. The people there are angry at Ardan for ‘abandoning them’, angry at Kerania for ‘betraying them’, and just generally angry. Kalmar is in dire straits, but has the advantage of very powerful allies.
(Kalmar drastically reduced, Kerania and northwestern Davar will get stats once their future is confirmed)
Otaria has transitioned into a form of government never seen before in a Bladeist State. With the death of the White Rider, power has fallen into the hands of the Zaslužen, the new pseudo-nobility of Otaria. The Zaslužen have the power to elect a new leader following the death of the previous, but the setup of a ‘Svet’, as the new form of government is called, is precarious. A weak leader could easily be overthrown by an ambitious noble, a strong leader could easily dissolve the Svet and turn the nation into a Monarchy, like all other Bladeist nations.
The nation is still a fledgling economically, though. Trade is still fairly uncommon, and Otaria has little to offer other than a few underexploited raw materials and grains.
Actually, this statement about representative government is not entirely true.
Shortly after the collapse of the Swade Ascendancy, one group which had enjoyed great freedoms during the time between the fall of Swade government and the installation of Myocacan administration left it all behind to live in freedom once again- but this time, in Azulia.
This group hijacked an Emoran trade caravan and sailed to Azulia. They landed near Norvalin, and set off into the mountains, seeking ‘Peresofo’, or Heaven on Tellus.
They found it in a previously unknown valley, kept at a tolerable temperature throughout the year due to geothermal activity. Here, they founded the city of Egal, and began to build their own free nation, ‘for the people by the people’.
What their Oneist neighbours to the south will think remains to be seen.
Even further to the north, the people of Malereficar struggle to survive. With the recent lack of strong leadership, the people may soon fall back to the nomadic lifestyles they led prior to uniting.
Gamorrea, under the leadership of the new Temuj, Azgorra II, has focused strongly on advancing their country. Attempts to revitalize the economy of the Malkavian territories have been successful, culminating in the emergents of Barakuir as an Economic Center. Also, the new religion of Gorrahnism is spreading rapidly through the southern regions of Gamorrea. However, it is still generally reviled in the traditionalist northern regions.
(+Barakuir Economic Center)
Much more interesting than the cultural development of Gamorrea, however, is their recent war against Fairhelt.
Following their horrible defeat, the Iron Face Lengels fled their homelands, setting up again in Gamorrea as a Mercenary army. When Gamorrea decided to invade the weakened nation of Fairhelt, the Iron Faces saw this as an excellent chance to gain a homeland of their own, or at least liberate that of an old friend.
Gamorrean armies struck from the east without warning, and the Iron Faces struck the unguarded northern-frontier of the occupied territory of Merhai.
Fairhelt was totally unprepared for this, believing the Iron Faces to be completely dead and and Gamorreans to be peaceful in their intentions. Huge gains were made by the invaders before Fairhelt could muster its army. The badly-outnumbered defenders prepared for a battle a few days ride northwest of Kaliai, but they were unprepared for what Fairhelt had in store for them. Just before the battle, a large amount of livestock was slaughtered by the Gamorreans. The Wooly Ramids upon which Fairhelt depended so dearly were terrified by the smells and sounds of death, and fled, often causing casualties to their own side. Some of the more disciplined Ramids remained, but the weak force was now fatally weak.
Gamorrea struck, and the remaining Fairhelt forces were destroyed. The frightened forces and those who had not been present at the battle retreated further into the north, preparing to raise a conscript army. However, the Iron Faces and Gamorreans didn’t bother to follow them into the frigid lands of the northern coast.
The people of Merhai, while at first welcoming their liberators, became somewhat less enthusiastic when they began being forced to convert.
Not being particularly attached to their animist faith, however, most Merhai have complied, converting to either Gorrhanism or Lengri, depending on which force controlled their territory.
(-1000 Takil-Gorrahn, -1000 Horse Archers, -500 Axemen, -500 Spearmen, -2000 Iron Face Horse Archers, -1000 Fairhelt Spearmen, -2000 Axemen, -35 Wooly Ramids)
Croyodon has officially gained control of most of the lands it captured in Northern Gorin. It has also begun expansion towards Fairhelt in the north. The economy is growing, and things have never looked better for this nation.
Gorin’s increasingly urban population is growing, and the new hands are helping to strengthen the economy. In terms of social development, Gorin is beginning to quickly catch up with Khemri. A large middle-class is developing, and education is becoming more and more common. The pacifist movement, pleased with the end of large-scale fighting with the Lengels, has settled down again. Overall, the nation of Gorin is well on its way to recovery from near destruction.
(+Dasht Economic Center, Size Increases to Large)
Several more explosions have gone off in Gorinese cities. Investigators have found one of these ‘bombs’, which apparently failed to go off. They are hollow metal objects with irregular exteriors. They apparently work by transforming water to steam, which expands the hollow metal object until it bursts, sending shrapnel and scalding steam in all directions.
One near-dead woman was found with horrible burns near one of the explosions. It is not entirely clear whether she was responsible for the bombs (or possibly one of several responsible) or just an unfortunate victim. However, she did not look Gorinese at all- and couldn’t speak the language. Further questioning became impossible, as she passed away from her injuries soon after being found.
Adding to Gorin’s problems was the assassination of the Kaiser, stabbed to death while in bed. He was elderly, and his son was ready to take the throne, but the insult and tragedy of the situation remain just as strong.
Shortly before his untimely death, the late Kaiser Basu Oborski VII declared that ‘All Lands in the North are now Free for the Taking’. Large waves of Gorinese settlers began moving to the north, and the area (at the time populated only by the more peaceful Lengel populations) quickly became flooded with Gorin’s culture. The Lengels who did not leave with the Iron Faces are now a minority in their own homeland, and their culture is eroding away.
Zuoharra continues on, as quiet and self-absorbed as ever.
Khemri too is prospering at the end of a difficult war. Large-scale trade with Guangfei has begun, resulting in great economic riches for both nations. Meanwhile, the economy is booming. It is now more powerful than ever before, nearly twice as powerful as its nearby rival, Gorin.
While the War of the White Rose was officially over, Khemri clearly didn’t intend to end its hostilities towards Veritas. After trading Emor for the Island of Veritas, Khemri maintained its control of the island and didn’t pay Veritas, citing that Ardan had broken a deal with Khemri. At the same time, it occupied Emor, which was at the time free of Valin troops.
The forces of Veritas, while angered by this betrayal, did nothing to fight it. They were too weak to deal with Khemri. Their target was elsewhere…
Meanwhile, Khemri and Myocaca had their own disagreement over the fate of Emor. Myocaca claimed most of the area, leaving Khemri with only a strip along the coast (albeit, an economically-valuable strip). Neither side wants a fight, so no moves have been made regarding the border yet, save Myocaca moving troops into the areas they claimed.
However, the turnover of Khemri-occupied Swade proper went much more smoothly. The former lands of the Swade Ascendancy and the Kingdom of Myocaca were unified into the Cultesian Bladeist Empire of Greater Myocaca. It took the best from both nations- Swade Longbows and Myocacan Yu-Yan Bows were combined, Myocacan Cavalry tradition and Swade Swordsmanship were combined to form the Knights of Divine Enlightenment, an equivalent to the Valin Rose Knights or Khemran Crystal Knights, though not quite up to the level of Gorin’s legendary Bajo-Oni.
Following the collapse of Aryien authority, its armies retreated from their conquests, to become embroiled in a civil war between republicanists and royalists. This fight was cut short by a Myocacan force who moved in and deposed the current leaders, placing senior officer and renowned warrior, recently promoted to Lieutenant General, Barest, son of Bradicus of Herim Tower, as leader and King of the Aryie.
The Aryiens appreciate the peace, though they want a new High Priest more than they want a foreign king. Most expect things to go back to their pre-war state following the death of their new king.
(-1000 Myocacan Swordsmen, -1000 Aryien Swordsmen, Aryie becomes Vassal of Myocaca)
Next, Myocaca sent a large force to eliminate the Aryiens in Sintonia. While few would have thought it at the time the order was made, this decision would radically alter the future course of history.
Oceanus Selenica of Veritas led the entire Valin Army out of Emor, to Sintonia. Guangfei had agreed to give its portion of New Veritas to the Valins, but Veritas wanted all of its former lands in the area back- and they were occupied by Sintonia, an utterly devastated, weak, and unstable nation.
The first strike was against the capital. The city of Sintonia was bombarded by Valin fire, and stormed. The Sultan was killed, and the city (most of the army with it) fell to the Valins.
They rapidly spread through the area, and soon, all of New Veritas was in their hands. The Sintonians were then given a choice- convert or be exiled. Most chose exile, which presented something of a serious logistical problem for Veritas. While it ferried the exiles to the Bladeist nations in the north, the Myocacan force sent to help Sintonia with the Aryiens (who had left peacefully some time before) ran into the exiled Sintonians. Immediately realizing the scope of the situation, Myocaca landed a force in occupied Sintonia and demanded that the Valins retreat from it. Refusing the ultimatum, fighting broke out. Valin ships prevented the arrival of further Myocacan reinforcements or supplies, but the local Sintonians were more than willing to share their food.
As the two forces are of similar strength, neither has managed to gain a great advantage. However, the longer this conflict lasts, the worse Veritas’ chances of survival get.
(-500 Phoenix Archers, -500 Scimitari, -4000 Urban Militia, -1000 Myocacan Swordsmen, -3000 Militia, -500 Yu-Yan Archers, -Sintonia)
Whether or not any peace can still be salvaged, or if this will be enough to reignite total war, resulting in me having to spend yet another weekend detailing Khemri and Friends bashing the Oneists, remains to be seen.
The young King Cheng Ji VII has consented to marry a Princess of Guangfei, uniting the two nations into one greater kingdom.
Guangfei’s population continues to grow.
(+Population to Large)
The completion of the Silk Route to Khemri has brought economic benefits to Guangfei.
(+Guangzhou Economic Center)
In Guangfei, fireworks have been developed. The Emperor enjoys the spectacle, but others suggest potential military uses of explosive projectiles.
Gerougia and Guarela continue to grow and thrive in peace.
The Trinlinist nations, however, do not.
The problems began when Magland made an ultimatum to Destre: Join us willingly, or we’ll make you join us unwillingly.
King Jayon immediately prepared to defend against an invasion. While his budget was questioned by his council and deemed impossible (building a road to Guangfei), his people were nonetheless prepared for the oncoming onslaught.
However, the attack didn’t come. Destre remains on high alert to this day, but there would be no fighting on Magland’s western frontier.
No promises made, however, for the eastern border.
Without warning, a force of 5000 Rozanian soldiers crossed the border into Magland. They won a few quick skirmishes with the Mag border force, then began a rapid advance through the lands recently conquered by Magland. Depicting themselves as liberators from the ‘Slavers of Magon’, Rozan received great support from those who had not been taken away by the Mags.
The two nations had their first major battle at the city of Orvit. As Magland had difficulty detecting exactly where the Rozanian armies were moving through the wilderness, its forces were more spread out than normal, which gave the smaller invading force a fighting chance.
Magland began to concentrate its forces, when reports arrived of a second army reached them from their scouts. Forces were redirected, but met no army. Perhaps their scout had made an error, perhaps he had merely found a diversion force… but whatever the cause, the second main Rozanian army plowed into Southern Trinlin almost unopposed. Magland reacted quickly, but not quickly enough. The economically valuable region around the city of Trinlin was captured, and nearly all of the Trinlinese-majority areas of the country burst into rebellion, at last seeing a chance for freedom from the Mags.
However, even with this large amount of support, Magland is still holding its own. While much of the urbanized areas of the nation are now in rebellion, most of the productive countryside remains loyal. And Magland still has great reserves of manpower which it may call into play in the near future. However, other powers are likely to involve themselves in the conflict. The situation could still easily slide either way.
(-3000 Rozanian Swordsmen, -500 Axemen, (Barbarian Volunteer Casualties and Trinlinese Rebel Casualties also exist, but are not in the stats) -2000 Mag Spearmen, -2000 Swordsmen, -2000 Recruits)
In the tempestuous uplands between Sintonia, Guangfei and Rozan, a new civilization has been discovered. It has been around for several centuries, but had been generally considered to be a mere protostate until recently Rajkutra is a mercantile, yet spiritual city-state, one that is poised to be great in the future.
Already, it has begun to have an impact on others. It is beginning to convert some people in Rozan to the religion of Tinuraj, though most Rozanians are content with their current belief systems.
Further south, a religious group calling itself the Priory of Envia has arisen. It remains little-known and quite mysterious to outsiders.
The Citadel has begun a mass-movement out of its traditional lands. The government has sailed out of Seaport in oarless ships that can move without wind, and off to parts unknown. Then, entire shipments of the voluminous literature of the Citadel were shipped out. Soon, it became an overwhelming flow of humanity leaving the Port of the Citadel, all leaving for 'a more peaceful place'.
After only a few years, the Citadel is nearly empty. Only a few steadfast scholars remain, and some of the non-scholar working population.
Suspicious are rising that the Citadel of Knowledge has far greater knowledge and technology than had been previously believed, and others are wondering just why a nation, comfortably in peace, would leave its homeland like this..
Notes: The Big mountain range in Azulia needs a name. The Divotheists simply call it the ‘Sky Range’ or ‘Sky Mountains’, is this name acceptable or would you like something else?
When I describe a minority in the culture section as ‘Large’ or ‘Tiny’, this does not refer to the population numbers, but to how large the minority is in comparison to the majority.
Fulfilling their ancient tradition, Divotheists throughout Azulia celebrated the great Festival of the Gods. However, during this massive event, spiritual celebration would be most tragically interrupted with bloodshed…
The Yathai have continued to explore their area, finding nothing other than endless waves in one direction, and more of the mainland in the other.
Their efforts in the conversion of the locals, however, are starting to go better. Some of the mainlanders are accepting the ways of Mantea, though there are still resisters.
Syracia has launched several expeditions to their north, finding little of interest. The lands north of the mountains are barely arable, though it is possible to eke out a living on them. However, it is suspected that there are many valuable metals and minerals to be found in the barren terrain of the north.
The Syracians also continue to fight against the pirates of Ida’an’i’i. They have withdrawn to a more tenable position, and have destroyed any attackers attempting to land on their new island holdings.
(-500 Axemen, -5 Galleys, +Ida’an’i’i Minority)
However, these good times were not to last. Yaran, Second Emperor of Syracia, was assassinated by people believed to be Divotheist Assasins. This provoked a massive lashing-out against the large Divotheist minority in the country, and ended the royal line of Syracia. The high figures in command were quick to set up a more decentralized and stable command structure, but not before many thousands of Divotheists had been killed. Their bodies were put into mass graves, forever locking them away from the holy sky.
Divotheists everywhere were at first shocked and horrified by the slaughter, then furious. Wherever there was a Divotheist population, there was agitation for war against the ‘soulless atheists’.
Unfortunately for the Divotheist population in Kelios, this greatly annoyed the Alse Government. Many of the agitators were arrested, and suffered a similar fate to the populations in Syracia.
This stopped all of the pro-war actions by Divotheists in Kelios, but it was simply the last straw for the Divotheists. Chancosanx and Tir Tairngire declared war on Kelios, the strongest of the ‘Godless Ones’ and most easy to access.
Syracia immediately pledged 1000 Sparakae to help Kelios’ cause. The war was on.
Justok Nictuma himself led a great force towards the capital. He quickly began to fight the surprisingly well-prepared forces of Kelios. While he had a numerical advantage, his enemies made mincemeat of his large spearman formations. However, Divotheist Cloud Warriors constantly destroyed Kelios’ ambush forces stationed in the mountains.
This offensive stalled just short of the city of Kelios.
Meanwhile, Tuatha forces under the command of Klishin, the son of the aging Chief Kenna, made great progress fighting along Kelios’ coast. He reached Faransir around the same time the Kelios was beginning to halt Nictuma’s advance, and laid siege to the city. Kelios’ forces were limited in the area, though reinforcements were beginning to arrive from the north.
After a brief siege, the hastily-constructed gate of the city was smashed open and the city fell to Klishin’s forces. Few were willing to convert, and all resisters were killed. Klishin’s forces then advanced towards the capital, but were held out of Kelios’ home valley by the increasingly-desperate defenders.
The final offensive didn’t begin until both other fronts had stalled. A Chancosanx force was thrown at the city of Allan. It was repelled by a large force of cavalry, which the Divotheists had no experience fighting against.
However, on the now largely-undefended Tsayan border, barbarians began to pour into northern Kelios. The cavalry forces of Kelios were simply not large enough to fight off two invasions at once. They fought and died, and the city of Allan fell.
However, not all went badly for Kelios in that particular battle. For Miruz Nictuma, heir to the Chancosanx throne, brashly advised the atheist Tsayans to convert to Divotheism, and gave them ‘permission’ to keep the territory they had captured. The infuriated leaders of the Tsayans refused, and declared Chancosanx to be nearly as much of an enemy as Kelios. Chancotol and Tsaya, while now estranged, are still on the same side, though this alliance may fall apart quickly once it is no longer mutually desirable.
Kelios was now besieged from three fronts and the government fled to Mard, should the worst happen- and soon after, it did.
The forces of Justok Nictuma, still strong, well-informed, and well-supplied, broke through Kelios’ mountain defenses. Klishin’s forces broke through in the south soon after. The capital was surrounded and besieged, though it holds out to this day. Leaving their forces to starve the city out, the Divotheists marched eastwards, towards Aldis. However, by now, the Soldiers of the Plow had been raised, the Syracian Sparakae had arrived, and this additional force was enough to finally halt the Divotheist advance.
(-2 EP to Kelios Next Turn, -2000 Kelios Cavalry, -3000 Swordsmen, -1000 Archers, -500 Spearmen, -500 Axemen, -2500 Tuatha Swordsmen, -5000 Chancosanx Spearmen, -1500 Cloud Warriors, -1000 Archers)
While Klishin campaigned against Kelios, his father passed away. Klishin is clearly the most competent commander in Tir Tairngire, but he is also now greatly needed at home.
The Pirian Oneists north of Zamdar and Tir Tairngire continue their expansion, keeping a peaceful and low profile.
The increasingly liberal nation of Zamdar has opened its ports to immigration, portraying itself as a haven for oppressed groups. Many people are still unsure about this nation, but a group of Orthodox Crystalists have come to this nation to give their faith a new start.
After decades of warfare, the War of the White Rose is over. Veritas has retreated from northern Terrania entirely, trading Emor to Khemri for the island of Veritas. However, its plans for war had by no means stopped…
Meanwhile, Arcadia purchased back part of its homeland in Davar, and made peace.
Styatior Vain died of old age in Arcadia, and in the power vacuum after his death, a representative government has been reestablished. Meanwhile, Ardan’s grip on Orum is beginning to slip, as some of the inland regions are falling to Orumo barbarians (those not conquered by Ardan during the original invasion).
Despite the end of war, troubles in Kalmar continue unabated. As mentioned before, Ardan purchased all of the lands east of the Dava (or as the Davians call it, ‘Lunx’
, but the rest of its former territories remained de jure in Kalmar’s hands. The UoA’s government encouraged rebels to emigrate into these western lands, but most refused.Feeling betrayed by Ardan, the rebels continued their actions on their own. In western Davar, a group calling themselves the ‘Hugions’ after their martyred leader have become the dominant rebel group. In Kerania, Servei Karseyn continued to raise support for his cause, and won several crushing victories over a poorly-coordinated Kalmar offensive.
Then, things began to get really bad for Kalmar. King Vadon II, who had only briefly before declared a new ‘Kalmarsrijk’, was assassinated, presumably by rebels. His son was too young to rule, and factionalism soon split apart the nation. In the midst of this chaos, the rebels established themselves, but squabbled with each other over where their border should be, who should own Strategium, and whether or not the Hugions would get a piece of coastline. Squabbles turned to outright fighting, resulting in the near-collapse of the Hugion movement and Kerania’s gain of several ethnically-Davian areas.
This infighting of the rebels was the salvation of Kalmar. The stewards of young Vadon III won out in the brief Kalmar civil war, and put up a combined front against Kerania, preventing it from regaining all of its former lands.
The areas of influence in the region once encompassed by Kalmar have now apparently calmed. The brilliant General Karseyn has secured a nation for the Keran people, though how long it will last remains unknown. The Hugions have essentially collapsed, leaving much of northwestern Davar in anarchy. The people there are angry at Ardan for ‘abandoning them’, angry at Kerania for ‘betraying them’, and just generally angry. Kalmar is in dire straits, but has the advantage of very powerful allies.
(Kalmar drastically reduced, Kerania and northwestern Davar will get stats once their future is confirmed)
Otaria has transitioned into a form of government never seen before in a Bladeist State. With the death of the White Rider, power has fallen into the hands of the Zaslužen, the new pseudo-nobility of Otaria. The Zaslužen have the power to elect a new leader following the death of the previous, but the setup of a ‘Svet’, as the new form of government is called, is precarious. A weak leader could easily be overthrown by an ambitious noble, a strong leader could easily dissolve the Svet and turn the nation into a Monarchy, like all other Bladeist nations.
The nation is still a fledgling economically, though. Trade is still fairly uncommon, and Otaria has little to offer other than a few underexploited raw materials and grains.
Actually, this statement about representative government is not entirely true.
Shortly after the collapse of the Swade Ascendancy, one group which had enjoyed great freedoms during the time between the fall of Swade government and the installation of Myocacan administration left it all behind to live in freedom once again- but this time, in Azulia.
This group hijacked an Emoran trade caravan and sailed to Azulia. They landed near Norvalin, and set off into the mountains, seeking ‘Peresofo’, or Heaven on Tellus.
They found it in a previously unknown valley, kept at a tolerable temperature throughout the year due to geothermal activity. Here, they founded the city of Egal, and began to build their own free nation, ‘for the people by the people’.
What their Oneist neighbours to the south will think remains to be seen.
Even further to the north, the people of Malereficar struggle to survive. With the recent lack of strong leadership, the people may soon fall back to the nomadic lifestyles they led prior to uniting.
Gamorrea, under the leadership of the new Temuj, Azgorra II, has focused strongly on advancing their country. Attempts to revitalize the economy of the Malkavian territories have been successful, culminating in the emergents of Barakuir as an Economic Center. Also, the new religion of Gorrahnism is spreading rapidly through the southern regions of Gamorrea. However, it is still generally reviled in the traditionalist northern regions.
(+Barakuir Economic Center)
Much more interesting than the cultural development of Gamorrea, however, is their recent war against Fairhelt.
Following their horrible defeat, the Iron Face Lengels fled their homelands, setting up again in Gamorrea as a Mercenary army. When Gamorrea decided to invade the weakened nation of Fairhelt, the Iron Faces saw this as an excellent chance to gain a homeland of their own, or at least liberate that of an old friend.
Gamorrean armies struck from the east without warning, and the Iron Faces struck the unguarded northern-frontier of the occupied territory of Merhai.
Fairhelt was totally unprepared for this, believing the Iron Faces to be completely dead and and Gamorreans to be peaceful in their intentions. Huge gains were made by the invaders before Fairhelt could muster its army. The badly-outnumbered defenders prepared for a battle a few days ride northwest of Kaliai, but they were unprepared for what Fairhelt had in store for them. Just before the battle, a large amount of livestock was slaughtered by the Gamorreans. The Wooly Ramids upon which Fairhelt depended so dearly were terrified by the smells and sounds of death, and fled, often causing casualties to their own side. Some of the more disciplined Ramids remained, but the weak force was now fatally weak.
Gamorrea struck, and the remaining Fairhelt forces were destroyed. The frightened forces and those who had not been present at the battle retreated further into the north, preparing to raise a conscript army. However, the Iron Faces and Gamorreans didn’t bother to follow them into the frigid lands of the northern coast.
The people of Merhai, while at first welcoming their liberators, became somewhat less enthusiastic when they began being forced to convert.
Not being particularly attached to their animist faith, however, most Merhai have complied, converting to either Gorrhanism or Lengri, depending on which force controlled their territory.
(-1000 Takil-Gorrahn, -1000 Horse Archers, -500 Axemen, -500 Spearmen, -2000 Iron Face Horse Archers, -1000 Fairhelt Spearmen, -2000 Axemen, -35 Wooly Ramids)
Croyodon has officially gained control of most of the lands it captured in Northern Gorin. It has also begun expansion towards Fairhelt in the north. The economy is growing, and things have never looked better for this nation.
Gorin’s increasingly urban population is growing, and the new hands are helping to strengthen the economy. In terms of social development, Gorin is beginning to quickly catch up with Khemri. A large middle-class is developing, and education is becoming more and more common. The pacifist movement, pleased with the end of large-scale fighting with the Lengels, has settled down again. Overall, the nation of Gorin is well on its way to recovery from near destruction.
(+Dasht Economic Center, Size Increases to Large)
Several more explosions have gone off in Gorinese cities. Investigators have found one of these ‘bombs’, which apparently failed to go off. They are hollow metal objects with irregular exteriors. They apparently work by transforming water to steam, which expands the hollow metal object until it bursts, sending shrapnel and scalding steam in all directions.
One near-dead woman was found with horrible burns near one of the explosions. It is not entirely clear whether she was responsible for the bombs (or possibly one of several responsible) or just an unfortunate victim. However, she did not look Gorinese at all- and couldn’t speak the language. Further questioning became impossible, as she passed away from her injuries soon after being found.
Adding to Gorin’s problems was the assassination of the Kaiser, stabbed to death while in bed. He was elderly, and his son was ready to take the throne, but the insult and tragedy of the situation remain just as strong.
Shortly before his untimely death, the late Kaiser Basu Oborski VII declared that ‘All Lands in the North are now Free for the Taking’. Large waves of Gorinese settlers began moving to the north, and the area (at the time populated only by the more peaceful Lengel populations) quickly became flooded with Gorin’s culture. The Lengels who did not leave with the Iron Faces are now a minority in their own homeland, and their culture is eroding away.
Zuoharra continues on, as quiet and self-absorbed as ever.
Khemri too is prospering at the end of a difficult war. Large-scale trade with Guangfei has begun, resulting in great economic riches for both nations. Meanwhile, the economy is booming. It is now more powerful than ever before, nearly twice as powerful as its nearby rival, Gorin.
While the War of the White Rose was officially over, Khemri clearly didn’t intend to end its hostilities towards Veritas. After trading Emor for the Island of Veritas, Khemri maintained its control of the island and didn’t pay Veritas, citing that Ardan had broken a deal with Khemri. At the same time, it occupied Emor, which was at the time free of Valin troops.
The forces of Veritas, while angered by this betrayal, did nothing to fight it. They were too weak to deal with Khemri. Their target was elsewhere…
Meanwhile, Khemri and Myocaca had their own disagreement over the fate of Emor. Myocaca claimed most of the area, leaving Khemri with only a strip along the coast (albeit, an economically-valuable strip). Neither side wants a fight, so no moves have been made regarding the border yet, save Myocaca moving troops into the areas they claimed.
However, the turnover of Khemri-occupied Swade proper went much more smoothly. The former lands of the Swade Ascendancy and the Kingdom of Myocaca were unified into the Cultesian Bladeist Empire of Greater Myocaca. It took the best from both nations- Swade Longbows and Myocacan Yu-Yan Bows were combined, Myocacan Cavalry tradition and Swade Swordsmanship were combined to form the Knights of Divine Enlightenment, an equivalent to the Valin Rose Knights or Khemran Crystal Knights, though not quite up to the level of Gorin’s legendary Bajo-Oni.
Following the collapse of Aryien authority, its armies retreated from their conquests, to become embroiled in a civil war between republicanists and royalists. This fight was cut short by a Myocacan force who moved in and deposed the current leaders, placing senior officer and renowned warrior, recently promoted to Lieutenant General, Barest, son of Bradicus of Herim Tower, as leader and King of the Aryie.
The Aryiens appreciate the peace, though they want a new High Priest more than they want a foreign king. Most expect things to go back to their pre-war state following the death of their new king.
(-1000 Myocacan Swordsmen, -1000 Aryien Swordsmen, Aryie becomes Vassal of Myocaca)
Next, Myocaca sent a large force to eliminate the Aryiens in Sintonia. While few would have thought it at the time the order was made, this decision would radically alter the future course of history.
Oceanus Selenica of Veritas led the entire Valin Army out of Emor, to Sintonia. Guangfei had agreed to give its portion of New Veritas to the Valins, but Veritas wanted all of its former lands in the area back- and they were occupied by Sintonia, an utterly devastated, weak, and unstable nation.
The first strike was against the capital. The city of Sintonia was bombarded by Valin fire, and stormed. The Sultan was killed, and the city (most of the army with it) fell to the Valins.
They rapidly spread through the area, and soon, all of New Veritas was in their hands. The Sintonians were then given a choice- convert or be exiled. Most chose exile, which presented something of a serious logistical problem for Veritas. While it ferried the exiles to the Bladeist nations in the north, the Myocacan force sent to help Sintonia with the Aryiens (who had left peacefully some time before) ran into the exiled Sintonians. Immediately realizing the scope of the situation, Myocaca landed a force in occupied Sintonia and demanded that the Valins retreat from it. Refusing the ultimatum, fighting broke out. Valin ships prevented the arrival of further Myocacan reinforcements or supplies, but the local Sintonians were more than willing to share their food.
As the two forces are of similar strength, neither has managed to gain a great advantage. However, the longer this conflict lasts, the worse Veritas’ chances of survival get.
(-500 Phoenix Archers, -500 Scimitari, -4000 Urban Militia, -1000 Myocacan Swordsmen, -3000 Militia, -500 Yu-Yan Archers, -Sintonia)
Whether or not any peace can still be salvaged, or if this will be enough to reignite total war, resulting in me having to spend yet another weekend detailing Khemri and Friends bashing the Oneists, remains to be seen.
The young King Cheng Ji VII has consented to marry a Princess of Guangfei, uniting the two nations into one greater kingdom.
Guangfei’s population continues to grow.
(+Population to Large)
The completion of the Silk Route to Khemri has brought economic benefits to Guangfei.
(+Guangzhou Economic Center)
In Guangfei, fireworks have been developed. The Emperor enjoys the spectacle, but others suggest potential military uses of explosive projectiles.
Gerougia and Guarela continue to grow and thrive in peace.
The Trinlinist nations, however, do not.
The problems began when Magland made an ultimatum to Destre: Join us willingly, or we’ll make you join us unwillingly.
King Jayon immediately prepared to defend against an invasion. While his budget was questioned by his council and deemed impossible (building a road to Guangfei), his people were nonetheless prepared for the oncoming onslaught.
However, the attack didn’t come. Destre remains on high alert to this day, but there would be no fighting on Magland’s western frontier.
No promises made, however, for the eastern border.
Without warning, a force of 5000 Rozanian soldiers crossed the border into Magland. They won a few quick skirmishes with the Mag border force, then began a rapid advance through the lands recently conquered by Magland. Depicting themselves as liberators from the ‘Slavers of Magon’, Rozan received great support from those who had not been taken away by the Mags.
The two nations had their first major battle at the city of Orvit. As Magland had difficulty detecting exactly where the Rozanian armies were moving through the wilderness, its forces were more spread out than normal, which gave the smaller invading force a fighting chance.
Magland began to concentrate its forces, when reports arrived of a second army reached them from their scouts. Forces were redirected, but met no army. Perhaps their scout had made an error, perhaps he had merely found a diversion force… but whatever the cause, the second main Rozanian army plowed into Southern Trinlin almost unopposed. Magland reacted quickly, but not quickly enough. The economically valuable region around the city of Trinlin was captured, and nearly all of the Trinlinese-majority areas of the country burst into rebellion, at last seeing a chance for freedom from the Mags.
However, even with this large amount of support, Magland is still holding its own. While much of the urbanized areas of the nation are now in rebellion, most of the productive countryside remains loyal. And Magland still has great reserves of manpower which it may call into play in the near future. However, other powers are likely to involve themselves in the conflict. The situation could still easily slide either way.
(-3000 Rozanian Swordsmen, -500 Axemen, (Barbarian Volunteer Casualties and Trinlinese Rebel Casualties also exist, but are not in the stats) -2000 Mag Spearmen, -2000 Swordsmen, -2000 Recruits)
In the tempestuous uplands between Sintonia, Guangfei and Rozan, a new civilization has been discovered. It has been around for several centuries, but had been generally considered to be a mere protostate until recently Rajkutra is a mercantile, yet spiritual city-state, one that is poised to be great in the future.
Already, it has begun to have an impact on others. It is beginning to convert some people in Rozan to the religion of Tinuraj, though most Rozanians are content with their current belief systems.
Further south, a religious group calling itself the Priory of Envia has arisen. It remains little-known and quite mysterious to outsiders.
The Citadel has begun a mass-movement out of its traditional lands. The government has sailed out of Seaport in oarless ships that can move without wind, and off to parts unknown. Then, entire shipments of the voluminous literature of the Citadel were shipped out. Soon, it became an overwhelming flow of humanity leaving the Port of the Citadel, all leaving for 'a more peaceful place'.
After only a few years, the Citadel is nearly empty. Only a few steadfast scholars remain, and some of the non-scholar working population.
Suspicious are rising that the Citadel of Knowledge has far greater knowledge and technology than had been previously believed, and others are wondering just why a nation, comfortably in peace, would leave its homeland like this..
Notes: The Big mountain range in Azulia needs a name. The Divotheists simply call it the ‘Sky Range’ or ‘Sky Mountains’, is this name acceptable or would you like something else?
When I describe a minority in the culture section as ‘Large’ or ‘Tiny’, this does not refer to the population numbers, but to how large the minority is in comparison to the majority.
~Darkening~
Weep, Mother.
*sigh*
What did I do now? I paid, gave up my lands, and complied with the bloody treaty.
What did I do now? I paid, gave up my lands, and complied with the bloody treaty.
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
Wow, awesome update Iggy! Can't wait to see the map tomorrow.
From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: The Empire of Guangfei
We graciously thank the Emperor for his assistance and aid. With the restoration of New Veritas, we wish to sign a trade agreement and 200 year Pact of Non-Aggression between our nations. Let us leave the conflicts of the past behind us as we embrace a new era.
From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: Myocaca
We don't wish for conflict over these disputed lands. We are perfectly willing to pay you for returning the occupied New Veritasan lands to us, and also to ensure religious toleration and freedom for all Bladeists that do not wish to return to your empire. Myocaca and Veritas once had ties of friendship, and we can only hope that peace continues.
From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: The United Kingdom of Khemri and Kehexou
Is there any reason you chose not to return the island of Veritas to us?
From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: The Empire of Guangfei
We graciously thank the Emperor for his assistance and aid. With the restoration of New Veritas, we wish to sign a trade agreement and 200 year Pact of Non-Aggression between our nations. Let us leave the conflicts of the past behind us as we embrace a new era.
From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: Myocaca
We don't wish for conflict over these disputed lands. We are perfectly willing to pay you for returning the occupied New Veritasan lands to us, and also to ensure religious toleration and freedom for all Bladeists that do not wish to return to your empire. Myocaca and Veritas once had ties of friendship, and we can only hope that peace continues.
From: The Valin Republic of Veritas
To: The United Kingdom of Khemri and Kehexou
Is there any reason you chose not to return the island of Veritas to us?
JosefStalinator
Я буду снова здесь
Woohoo. Victory against Fairhelt!
I'll wait until the map is up before we start negotiating peace.
I'll wait until the map is up before we start negotiating peace.
jeps
Arcadefire
Great update. I shall take you off the list.
Swissempire
Poet Jester
Khemri and Friends bashing Oneists!!!!!!!
Outrage and indignation!!!!!
GAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oneists are bashed by Bladeists, Khemri just conquers!
Outrage and indignation!!!!!
GAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oneists are bashed by Bladeists, Khemri just conquers!
TerrisH
Mischief?
hmm, even after total victory, you still fight.
hmm really should have sent orders this turn. but this won't harm my plans to much. diplo later to try and continue my negotiation to restor Emor. or something like that.
hmm really should have sent orders this turn. but this won't harm my plans to much. diplo later to try and continue my negotiation to restor Emor. or something like that.
Swissempire
Poet Jester
I'm sure if all Emorians converted to Bladeism a state would be easy to acheive
