North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
OOC: If youre in a hurry, player nation names are in bold, just try to find yours. The nations which are in your section (sections are quite clearly divided) are no doubt linked to you somehow; it might be good to know what they are doing.
Update 0: Brave New World
And so dawns another day. The sun races over the heavens, and pours light upon the world; and a brave new world emerges, a world once virgin but now steadily being despoiled by a pesky little creature: humans. Now, humans havent done too much ill. Theyve only genetically modified a few species of plants and animals, destroyed a few other habitats to make some for themselves and their domesticates. All in all, their impact is limited, especially the impact of this little thing called civilization. But I digress.
******************
The sun rises steadily over the island nation of Rondaria, a pleasant little place, all in all. Rondaria is a divided but still rather peaceful isle, with the Rondarians occupying the middle of the island. The ends are still held by barbarian triblets, the Melians to the west and the Surati to the northeast. The whole island is densely populated, with terraced hillsides being the most common form of agriculture.
The Rondarians are quite invested in trade. Their capital in the south of the island is a large port, with many ships gathering in it on any given day; they are bound westward, to the island nations in that area.
The Rondarians carry away a few spices and various types of wood to the west. They travel to the island port of Samara, where they dock in the vast, sheltered harbor and load up on incenses and oils, then move on. Trilleah is a nation with a rather smaller port; their capital is located upstream, actually on the source of that river (the creatively named Trillean River), with bubbling springs pouring through the walls of that city. This is their source for an unusual type of tree sap in high demand for its spicing effects.
Then they move on, to the city state of Hysperinya, which is built on the many isles of a swamp; here they get unusual furs, and move further north. The city of Vettuara is the northernmost, and this is another odd creation; the homes are carved into the side of a mountain along a winding path. From this city they sail back south, past Hysperinya, Trilleah, and Samara to their home of Rondaria.
However, threats loom over this nation of Rondaria. The barbarians of the southern coast grow bolder. They are called the Daragians, and when they come north in their war canoes, howling for blood, the trade ships scatter, and a war galley from the nearest state is summoned. However, usually they come too late; inevitably one or two trade ships is overwhelmed by several raider galleys, their crew captured to be later sold into slavery, and their goods stolen. The Daragians also attack the coastal villages, raiding for slaves there as well, raping and pillaging. These are the greatest threat to stability and peace in Rondaria and their neighbors; if a strong king were to extinguish them, then that king would be lauded.
******************
In another land, the sun rises as well, over two lands which are similar, yet very different.
Azoria is a minor nation founded between a river and the sea, extending southward to a southern cape. They live on quite fertile soil (a coastal plain), and the population is relatively high. However, they are not here by accident, nor did they move here simply because it was a nice place to settle. No, they were driven here.
The Barazene nomads are fierce and bloodthirsty. They ride enormous beasts taller than a man, and hurl javelins from the back of these animals to pierce through several men at once, then they close, trampling men in their path under cloven hoofs, and massacring them with spears. These are the people who drove the Azorians to the river delta, and they are still a great threat. Fortunately, the migration put the river in between them and the Barazenes, so for now, they are safe. Unless the Barazenes were to find a safe ford...
In any case, further north, the Azorians have made some contact with minor villages. These are the only remnants of the once great river valley civilization that lives on in the legends of Azoria, but now they are poor, and weak militarily. The Barazenes came here, too, destroying their great cities and pillaging their fields. Now, the villages that are in direct contact with the Azorians plead for assistance, promising to be the loyal subjects of the Azorians; all they ask in return is protection. However, these are vast lands, and if the Azorians were to take under their control all that land, there would be so much frontier to defend that many of their generals worry that the Barazenes would become too great of a threat, able to ford at any point along that great stretch.
However, the Azorians trade by the sea as well. South their ships sail, carrying grain to the rocky areas of Theorja. These people are a relatively peaceful one, selling their bronze wares for a rather low price to the Azorians, which can then be taken home for vast profits. They are apparently under the rule of a much larger empire, one that dwarfs the Azorians many times over, called the Anjaen Empire.
The Azorians also trade to their north, along a much longer route, to Luca. Luca is a rather more warlike nation than the Azorians, as they have many more imminent threats to deal with. Or, you could go with what the Lucans say, and claim that they are a superior people.
Luca is situated about in the middle of a large, rather hilly area, which has a warm climate (not as warm as the Azorians, though). This region is not one rich in farmland, hence they import much of their basic foodstuffs from Azoria. However, they do have quite a few specialty crops, such as olives and apples, which grow in great abundance here. Oaks are also prevalent, with acorns being a staple diet of the peasantry in harder times. Red and black rocks are both common in Luca, if that means anything.
The Morroccan tribes are quite hostile, with a rather large military to boot, and they are often seen raiding the Lucan outlying villages. Furthermore, pirates from the coves west of the Lucans themselves harry the shipping route to Azoria, threatening some of their food supply; removing the two of these would go a great way towards restoring faith in the king into the people.
As a side note, hurricanes are a pretty much annual occurrence in both Azoria and Luca; these tropical storms come raging out of the ocean and flatten homes in a matter of hours. While they dont usually cause massive economic damage, from time to time they are rather annoying.
******************
Our next area to examine are the three nations of Dasania, Imperium Fortis, and Lodis, and also the city state of Kidia.
Of these three nations, Dasania is for a certainty the most distinct geographically, for they are on an island. The island of Dasania is fairly large, with an unusual shape, with a rather active geology. Not that this really matters much to the people, except that there are a few volcanoes on the island.
In any case, Dasania is quite populated, with terraced mountainside agriculture to prevent erosion common. Without these terraces, of course, the crops would simply wash away, for Dasania has the blessing of almost constant rainfall. The parts of the island still uncultivated or lived upon: namely the barbarian inhabited north, are a tropical rainforest, with trees interweaving to spectacular heights.
The capital of Dasania is along the coast, of course, where a minor local stream meets the ocean. Here many ships gather in their trading ports, bound for distant lands, such as the three mainland states, or perhaps the even more exotic lands far to the east. This land is referred to as Xia Xia, and is a very populated river valley full of city states trading exotic goods, such as fine silken fabric, and teak wood.
The traders usually go north with these goods to earn a higher profit; however, they must pass through the straits guarded by the city state of Kidia. Well put it bluntly: Kidia is a pain in the arse for most of the local nations, as it guards the crucial straits that regulate regional trade, and charges high tariffs to maintain their large fleet.
Further on is the nation of Imperium Fortis. These people straddle the River Fortis, and they lie at a crossroads. To their west are the nations of Kidia (a rather annoying nation for the Fortisians, as the Kidians guard the straits through which most Fortisian trade flows) and Dasania, to their east are the trackless wilds of a tropical rainforest inhabited by Daragian tribes, fierce and warlike. And to their north is Lodis.
The Fortisians are a nation with a powerful navy and a goodly sized army, and they would have much income as well, if only the pesky Kidians could be gotten rid of. They are one of the leading producers in the region of cane sugar and also a brown, bitter, stimulating drink known as cocoa. They have plenty of potential for overland expansion, especially if a brave and wise king were to defeat the Daragians...
Lodis sits to the north of all three of the other states, another, somewhat cooler, but still very tropical nation. They have the benefit of quite a large amount of rainfall, just like their neighbors, and this supports agriculture that supports their populace quite well. Their large population in turn feeds a large and well trained land army, that is the pride of the nation and quite ready to defeat anybody who would challenge them.
The topography is somewhat different from their neighbors, however; it is hillier than Imperium Fortis, and at the same time, the rainforest is not as dense; it is a semi-forested plain, similar to a veldt. This supports sugarcane growing, and the cultivation of a bitter stimulating drink called cocoa. They are primary producers of both of these, however, exports to the rest of the region have to go through Imperium Fortis, and thus are somewhat limited.
Their other neighbors, the Daragian tribes, are quite hostile, raiding the borders of the nation quite frequently; if they were to be reduced somehow, the people would be much happier, not to mention the lands of Lodis much expanded...
******************
The Dallarian Empire is an isolated state in a rather warm, mildly wet region. The land is essentially a vast, semi tropical, semi temperate rainforest, and it centers around the river valley their capital is built upon.
Dallaria has much expansion opportunity in that they are alone in their area; to the west, the tribes prove no challenge whatsoever, with a concentrated effort, even that rather large area could be subdued fairly easily. Their challenge comes to the east, where Baratian nomads riding huge beasts with cloven hooves ride down their sentries and kill them from afar with javelins, before riding in with spears for the kill. An effective defense system needs to be devised...
******************
Damara is a peaceful little nation. Actually, that was a blatant lie, its nothing like peaceful.
Damara lies on hills along the coastline, however, the nation varies from north to south topologically. The north is rugged, rocky hills, with moorlands and marshes interspersed among them. These hills are quite rich in minerals, especially salt, however, they have the threat of barbaric warriors, simply termed Uplanders, looming over them at any given moment. These Uplanders are quite fierce, and apparently have no wish to make peace with the Damarans.
To the south, the nation grows more fertile as the plains begin to smooth out the land into rolling hills. However, this land is plagued by Baranen horsemen, raiders who ride on the backs of these great beasts, charging down their opponents with spears after throwing javelins; an effective defense has yet to be devised.
More opportunity lies beyond the eastern mountains, however, as the villagers of the Uplanders claim that beyond their villages lies more densely populated lands, and past that, the near mythical kingdom of Garnen, which is famed even in Damara for its incense.
******************
Ancestors of the legendary Gemino, the Rösserians are the first people in the world to tame the horse. Their fierce and infamous riders are quite feared in the local areas, an even though their southern neighbors the Kerns are starting to take up the practice themselves, along with the Cargills and the Kathans, none of these people are as organized as the Rösserian riders, and thus they still hold the edge. Otherwise, their land is one of a medium dense population, who have a variety of animals and plants in their fields, including pigs and barley.
The Rösserians also happen to have something unusual happening due to the creation of their horse riding elite: the nation is gradually starting to stratify even more than the other nations of the world. The noble class of riders is below the king, of course, but quite above the peasants. Some of the nobles believe that the king should grant land rights to them, so that they can better tend to the local needs of the people, rather than the king trying to manage the whole edifice, but many advisors in the kings inner circle, fearing for their own power, advise against it.
Meanwhile, expeditions over the mountains in any of the directions: North, South, East, or West, might prove to be fruitful to the king, and also ridding them of some of the pesky barbarians...
******************
Anyang is a peaceful little state, quite civilized in its ways. The people quietly tend to their fields on the river delta, while the king rules the nation that is in relative peace. The people are quite content, the land gentle. Silk is a new product the people have begun to grow, and it is this product that they hope to trade to the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, the civilizing influence of Anyang is felt all through their river valley. The nearby Shangxi are as of now rather peaceful, and beginning to settle into villages. However, some of the tribes have begun to turn hostile to the Anyangese, wishing that they could be rid of this nation. Thus, a military campaign, distasteful as it may be, would be an excellent remedy to the problems that these barbarians are beginning to pose...
******************
The Empyrean Empire is the easternmost nation of three (the other two, east to west, are Elysia and Helara) on the northern coast of the Black Sea, a calm, warm body of water that produces the rains that fall occasionally on these areas. The lands of the Empyreans are, especially to their east, a gentle, fertile plain, excellent for growing olives and grapes for wines. To the west and the river, the lands start to grow a bit drier, and irrigation is necessary for good agriculture.
The Empyreans have a nice area, all in all, however, in the red hills of the north loom a rather new threat: barbarians. These people have been there for a while, of course, but only now have they begun to turn hostile, as Empyrean farmers settle further and further out from the capital. Fighting to protect their lands, the Moranan tribes are fierce and barbaric.
Soon, some of the Moranan tribes began to realize that the plundering life was more than just a way of revenge, it was a way of life. They began to raid in earnest, taking more goods, more wealth. The lands of the Empyreans started to suffer due to these raids, especially by the larger, more organized cheifdoms that occasionally came further out of the north.
Many in the nation have begun to call for a campaign against the Moranan tribes, if not to gain tribute from them, then simply to subdue them for a while. Of course, if a king were to completely destroy them, then he would surely be recorded as the greatest ever...
******************
The nation of Vu-varas is quite unusual. It is, for one, the roof of the world according the locals, as it is a high, cold, dry plateau. The only thing higher than it in the local area are the mountains that surround it. Supposedly, over the mountains are lush jungles and strange people, but they are far away from this nation. The high plateau does make travel and communication difficult, and defense is nearly unnecessary, but the army does put down the occasional odd rebellion, so they do have something to train for. Other than that, these people are alone in the wide, wide world.
******************
The Croyodonians are a rather primitive tribe on a northern isle, isolated from other civilized powers of the world, but quite content in their own ways.
Despite their isolationism and low technology, the Croyodonians are by far the most powerful tribe on their large isle; if they unite it, they have great potential. The island is fertile with rainfall extremely prevalent. The climate is fairly cool, leading to something of a temperate rainforest. The south of the island is full of various volcanic vents, which are often both feared and revered as homes of the gods.
In short, though they are currently rather backward, they have much potential, a good kick in the rear should deliver them unto the world.
******************
The Coutzeltal are relatively more recent arrivals to their lands than the natives, and thus have some deep feuds with the locals. The Caratli, as they call them, are fierce warriors determined to take back their lands from the Coutzeltal... though they fight with obsidian weapons and are liable to soon be outmatched by the rising bronze of the Coutzeltal.
The area has a warm, lush climate of jungles, nestled along the lakes that dominated the central area of the valley, however, volcanoes are an occasional threat, with earthquakes far more unsettling (pun, haha). While they are influential in their valley, they are not so much outside; some native tribes have converted to their religion and have become friendlier; the rest have not.
Fortunately, gold is prevalent in the hills and mountains, and the people revere it as the sweat of the sun.
******************
The Tallasians are the seafaring nation of the north, with fierce warriors inhabiting their chain of isles off the tip of the Sarcasi Peninsula. They area hardy folk, hardened by centuries of rather harsh winters, their warriors are brave, if somewhat undisciplined. More importantly, their ships are some of the most seaworthy in the world.
The local isles are not very good for farming, their soil rocky and barren. However, they have much copper in their veins, and this is a major metal producing region; more metals remain unexploited in the copper boom, that could perhaps be harnessed... Their religion has quite some influence on the peninsula to the south, with many of the small tribes having significant minorities who worship it; thus the peninsula would be ripe for military campaigns, if there were a strong king to lead them...
Important OOC:
Next update is Saturday. Please turn in orders by Friday, though they will be accepted Saturday noontime. Any later, and youre out of luck.
These should be BT orders, that is to say, they should be general, guiding your nation simply in the direction you want it to go, not going into detail, because this is a several hundred year update. Your nations should probably advance about an ages worth in technology, that means to the late bronze age to most of you; when we come out into IT, orders will be normal again.
Cheers.
Update 0: Brave New World
And so dawns another day. The sun races over the heavens, and pours light upon the world; and a brave new world emerges, a world once virgin but now steadily being despoiled by a pesky little creature: humans. Now, humans havent done too much ill. Theyve only genetically modified a few species of plants and animals, destroyed a few other habitats to make some for themselves and their domesticates. All in all, their impact is limited, especially the impact of this little thing called civilization. But I digress.
******************
The sun rises steadily over the island nation of Rondaria, a pleasant little place, all in all. Rondaria is a divided but still rather peaceful isle, with the Rondarians occupying the middle of the island. The ends are still held by barbarian triblets, the Melians to the west and the Surati to the northeast. The whole island is densely populated, with terraced hillsides being the most common form of agriculture.
The Rondarians are quite invested in trade. Their capital in the south of the island is a large port, with many ships gathering in it on any given day; they are bound westward, to the island nations in that area.
The Rondarians carry away a few spices and various types of wood to the west. They travel to the island port of Samara, where they dock in the vast, sheltered harbor and load up on incenses and oils, then move on. Trilleah is a nation with a rather smaller port; their capital is located upstream, actually on the source of that river (the creatively named Trillean River), with bubbling springs pouring through the walls of that city. This is their source for an unusual type of tree sap in high demand for its spicing effects.
Then they move on, to the city state of Hysperinya, which is built on the many isles of a swamp; here they get unusual furs, and move further north. The city of Vettuara is the northernmost, and this is another odd creation; the homes are carved into the side of a mountain along a winding path. From this city they sail back south, past Hysperinya, Trilleah, and Samara to their home of Rondaria.
However, threats loom over this nation of Rondaria. The barbarians of the southern coast grow bolder. They are called the Daragians, and when they come north in their war canoes, howling for blood, the trade ships scatter, and a war galley from the nearest state is summoned. However, usually they come too late; inevitably one or two trade ships is overwhelmed by several raider galleys, their crew captured to be later sold into slavery, and their goods stolen. The Daragians also attack the coastal villages, raiding for slaves there as well, raping and pillaging. These are the greatest threat to stability and peace in Rondaria and their neighbors; if a strong king were to extinguish them, then that king would be lauded.
******************
In another land, the sun rises as well, over two lands which are similar, yet very different.
Azoria is a minor nation founded between a river and the sea, extending southward to a southern cape. They live on quite fertile soil (a coastal plain), and the population is relatively high. However, they are not here by accident, nor did they move here simply because it was a nice place to settle. No, they were driven here.
The Barazene nomads are fierce and bloodthirsty. They ride enormous beasts taller than a man, and hurl javelins from the back of these animals to pierce through several men at once, then they close, trampling men in their path under cloven hoofs, and massacring them with spears. These are the people who drove the Azorians to the river delta, and they are still a great threat. Fortunately, the migration put the river in between them and the Barazenes, so for now, they are safe. Unless the Barazenes were to find a safe ford...
In any case, further north, the Azorians have made some contact with minor villages. These are the only remnants of the once great river valley civilization that lives on in the legends of Azoria, but now they are poor, and weak militarily. The Barazenes came here, too, destroying their great cities and pillaging their fields. Now, the villages that are in direct contact with the Azorians plead for assistance, promising to be the loyal subjects of the Azorians; all they ask in return is protection. However, these are vast lands, and if the Azorians were to take under their control all that land, there would be so much frontier to defend that many of their generals worry that the Barazenes would become too great of a threat, able to ford at any point along that great stretch.
However, the Azorians trade by the sea as well. South their ships sail, carrying grain to the rocky areas of Theorja. These people are a relatively peaceful one, selling their bronze wares for a rather low price to the Azorians, which can then be taken home for vast profits. They are apparently under the rule of a much larger empire, one that dwarfs the Azorians many times over, called the Anjaen Empire.
The Azorians also trade to their north, along a much longer route, to Luca. Luca is a rather more warlike nation than the Azorians, as they have many more imminent threats to deal with. Or, you could go with what the Lucans say, and claim that they are a superior people.
Luca is situated about in the middle of a large, rather hilly area, which has a warm climate (not as warm as the Azorians, though). This region is not one rich in farmland, hence they import much of their basic foodstuffs from Azoria. However, they do have quite a few specialty crops, such as olives and apples, which grow in great abundance here. Oaks are also prevalent, with acorns being a staple diet of the peasantry in harder times. Red and black rocks are both common in Luca, if that means anything.
The Morroccan tribes are quite hostile, with a rather large military to boot, and they are often seen raiding the Lucan outlying villages. Furthermore, pirates from the coves west of the Lucans themselves harry the shipping route to Azoria, threatening some of their food supply; removing the two of these would go a great way towards restoring faith in the king into the people.
As a side note, hurricanes are a pretty much annual occurrence in both Azoria and Luca; these tropical storms come raging out of the ocean and flatten homes in a matter of hours. While they dont usually cause massive economic damage, from time to time they are rather annoying.
******************
Our next area to examine are the three nations of Dasania, Imperium Fortis, and Lodis, and also the city state of Kidia.
Of these three nations, Dasania is for a certainty the most distinct geographically, for they are on an island. The island of Dasania is fairly large, with an unusual shape, with a rather active geology. Not that this really matters much to the people, except that there are a few volcanoes on the island.
In any case, Dasania is quite populated, with terraced mountainside agriculture to prevent erosion common. Without these terraces, of course, the crops would simply wash away, for Dasania has the blessing of almost constant rainfall. The parts of the island still uncultivated or lived upon: namely the barbarian inhabited north, are a tropical rainforest, with trees interweaving to spectacular heights.
The capital of Dasania is along the coast, of course, where a minor local stream meets the ocean. Here many ships gather in their trading ports, bound for distant lands, such as the three mainland states, or perhaps the even more exotic lands far to the east. This land is referred to as Xia Xia, and is a very populated river valley full of city states trading exotic goods, such as fine silken fabric, and teak wood.
The traders usually go north with these goods to earn a higher profit; however, they must pass through the straits guarded by the city state of Kidia. Well put it bluntly: Kidia is a pain in the arse for most of the local nations, as it guards the crucial straits that regulate regional trade, and charges high tariffs to maintain their large fleet.
Further on is the nation of Imperium Fortis. These people straddle the River Fortis, and they lie at a crossroads. To their west are the nations of Kidia (a rather annoying nation for the Fortisians, as the Kidians guard the straits through which most Fortisian trade flows) and Dasania, to their east are the trackless wilds of a tropical rainforest inhabited by Daragian tribes, fierce and warlike. And to their north is Lodis.
The Fortisians are a nation with a powerful navy and a goodly sized army, and they would have much income as well, if only the pesky Kidians could be gotten rid of. They are one of the leading producers in the region of cane sugar and also a brown, bitter, stimulating drink known as cocoa. They have plenty of potential for overland expansion, especially if a brave and wise king were to defeat the Daragians...
Lodis sits to the north of all three of the other states, another, somewhat cooler, but still very tropical nation. They have the benefit of quite a large amount of rainfall, just like their neighbors, and this supports agriculture that supports their populace quite well. Their large population in turn feeds a large and well trained land army, that is the pride of the nation and quite ready to defeat anybody who would challenge them.
The topography is somewhat different from their neighbors, however; it is hillier than Imperium Fortis, and at the same time, the rainforest is not as dense; it is a semi-forested plain, similar to a veldt. This supports sugarcane growing, and the cultivation of a bitter stimulating drink called cocoa. They are primary producers of both of these, however, exports to the rest of the region have to go through Imperium Fortis, and thus are somewhat limited.
Their other neighbors, the Daragian tribes, are quite hostile, raiding the borders of the nation quite frequently; if they were to be reduced somehow, the people would be much happier, not to mention the lands of Lodis much expanded...
******************
The Dallarian Empire is an isolated state in a rather warm, mildly wet region. The land is essentially a vast, semi tropical, semi temperate rainforest, and it centers around the river valley their capital is built upon.
Dallaria has much expansion opportunity in that they are alone in their area; to the west, the tribes prove no challenge whatsoever, with a concentrated effort, even that rather large area could be subdued fairly easily. Their challenge comes to the east, where Baratian nomads riding huge beasts with cloven hooves ride down their sentries and kill them from afar with javelins, before riding in with spears for the kill. An effective defense system needs to be devised...
******************
Damara is a peaceful little nation. Actually, that was a blatant lie, its nothing like peaceful.
Damara lies on hills along the coastline, however, the nation varies from north to south topologically. The north is rugged, rocky hills, with moorlands and marshes interspersed among them. These hills are quite rich in minerals, especially salt, however, they have the threat of barbaric warriors, simply termed Uplanders, looming over them at any given moment. These Uplanders are quite fierce, and apparently have no wish to make peace with the Damarans.
To the south, the nation grows more fertile as the plains begin to smooth out the land into rolling hills. However, this land is plagued by Baranen horsemen, raiders who ride on the backs of these great beasts, charging down their opponents with spears after throwing javelins; an effective defense has yet to be devised.
More opportunity lies beyond the eastern mountains, however, as the villagers of the Uplanders claim that beyond their villages lies more densely populated lands, and past that, the near mythical kingdom of Garnen, which is famed even in Damara for its incense.
******************
Ancestors of the legendary Gemino, the Rösserians are the first people in the world to tame the horse. Their fierce and infamous riders are quite feared in the local areas, an even though their southern neighbors the Kerns are starting to take up the practice themselves, along with the Cargills and the Kathans, none of these people are as organized as the Rösserian riders, and thus they still hold the edge. Otherwise, their land is one of a medium dense population, who have a variety of animals and plants in their fields, including pigs and barley.
The Rösserians also happen to have something unusual happening due to the creation of their horse riding elite: the nation is gradually starting to stratify even more than the other nations of the world. The noble class of riders is below the king, of course, but quite above the peasants. Some of the nobles believe that the king should grant land rights to them, so that they can better tend to the local needs of the people, rather than the king trying to manage the whole edifice, but many advisors in the kings inner circle, fearing for their own power, advise against it.
Meanwhile, expeditions over the mountains in any of the directions: North, South, East, or West, might prove to be fruitful to the king, and also ridding them of some of the pesky barbarians...
******************
Anyang is a peaceful little state, quite civilized in its ways. The people quietly tend to their fields on the river delta, while the king rules the nation that is in relative peace. The people are quite content, the land gentle. Silk is a new product the people have begun to grow, and it is this product that they hope to trade to the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, the civilizing influence of Anyang is felt all through their river valley. The nearby Shangxi are as of now rather peaceful, and beginning to settle into villages. However, some of the tribes have begun to turn hostile to the Anyangese, wishing that they could be rid of this nation. Thus, a military campaign, distasteful as it may be, would be an excellent remedy to the problems that these barbarians are beginning to pose...
******************
The Empyrean Empire is the easternmost nation of three (the other two, east to west, are Elysia and Helara) on the northern coast of the Black Sea, a calm, warm body of water that produces the rains that fall occasionally on these areas. The lands of the Empyreans are, especially to their east, a gentle, fertile plain, excellent for growing olives and grapes for wines. To the west and the river, the lands start to grow a bit drier, and irrigation is necessary for good agriculture.
The Empyreans have a nice area, all in all, however, in the red hills of the north loom a rather new threat: barbarians. These people have been there for a while, of course, but only now have they begun to turn hostile, as Empyrean farmers settle further and further out from the capital. Fighting to protect their lands, the Moranan tribes are fierce and barbaric.
Soon, some of the Moranan tribes began to realize that the plundering life was more than just a way of revenge, it was a way of life. They began to raid in earnest, taking more goods, more wealth. The lands of the Empyreans started to suffer due to these raids, especially by the larger, more organized cheifdoms that occasionally came further out of the north.
Many in the nation have begun to call for a campaign against the Moranan tribes, if not to gain tribute from them, then simply to subdue them for a while. Of course, if a king were to completely destroy them, then he would surely be recorded as the greatest ever...
******************
The nation of Vu-varas is quite unusual. It is, for one, the roof of the world according the locals, as it is a high, cold, dry plateau. The only thing higher than it in the local area are the mountains that surround it. Supposedly, over the mountains are lush jungles and strange people, but they are far away from this nation. The high plateau does make travel and communication difficult, and defense is nearly unnecessary, but the army does put down the occasional odd rebellion, so they do have something to train for. Other than that, these people are alone in the wide, wide world.
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The Croyodonians are a rather primitive tribe on a northern isle, isolated from other civilized powers of the world, but quite content in their own ways.
Despite their isolationism and low technology, the Croyodonians are by far the most powerful tribe on their large isle; if they unite it, they have great potential. The island is fertile with rainfall extremely prevalent. The climate is fairly cool, leading to something of a temperate rainforest. The south of the island is full of various volcanic vents, which are often both feared and revered as homes of the gods.
In short, though they are currently rather backward, they have much potential, a good kick in the rear should deliver them unto the world.
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The Coutzeltal are relatively more recent arrivals to their lands than the natives, and thus have some deep feuds with the locals. The Caratli, as they call them, are fierce warriors determined to take back their lands from the Coutzeltal... though they fight with obsidian weapons and are liable to soon be outmatched by the rising bronze of the Coutzeltal.
The area has a warm, lush climate of jungles, nestled along the lakes that dominated the central area of the valley, however, volcanoes are an occasional threat, with earthquakes far more unsettling (pun, haha). While they are influential in their valley, they are not so much outside; some native tribes have converted to their religion and have become friendlier; the rest have not.
Fortunately, gold is prevalent in the hills and mountains, and the people revere it as the sweat of the sun.
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The Tallasians are the seafaring nation of the north, with fierce warriors inhabiting their chain of isles off the tip of the Sarcasi Peninsula. They area hardy folk, hardened by centuries of rather harsh winters, their warriors are brave, if somewhat undisciplined. More importantly, their ships are some of the most seaworthy in the world.
The local isles are not very good for farming, their soil rocky and barren. However, they have much copper in their veins, and this is a major metal producing region; more metals remain unexploited in the copper boom, that could perhaps be harnessed... Their religion has quite some influence on the peninsula to the south, with many of the small tribes having significant minorities who worship it; thus the peninsula would be ripe for military campaigns, if there were a strong king to lead them...
Important OOC:
Next update is Saturday. Please turn in orders by Friday, though they will be accepted Saturday noontime. Any later, and youre out of luck.
These should be BT orders, that is to say, they should be general, guiding your nation simply in the direction you want it to go, not going into detail, because this is a several hundred year update. Your nations should probably advance about an ages worth in technology, that means to the late bronze age to most of you; when we come out into IT, orders will be normal again.
Cheers.
@ my starting map...
) one.
, I hope they were okay, the story on the religion is coming on the weekend.
