Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
Update 1707: Imprisoned by the thoughts of what you do
Non-Military
The Kingdom of Affalon completes its plans to gain influence over the various Mi'kmaq tribes with a score of symbolic marriages and binding oaths. The Throne now has control over all the lands of Nova Hibernia and is beginning to progress into the lands beyond. The Kings hopes to increase his taxation and growth base is still unsuccessful, and it will be many years before the Mi’kmaq will be culturally assimilated enough for his expansionist dreams. The new lands are causing something of a boom in the Affalonian population however, and benefits will likely be reaped down the line.
The Südlichreich invests heavily in their system of workshops and armories whilst lowering the protective tariffs they introduced last year. In truth they are not needed anymore with the damage done to Aragonese productivity it is more the Imperials who will economically dominate rather than be dominated.
The Russian Imperator declares that all resources are to be placed towards the war effort, and delegates some of this duties to the Imperial Senate, Russian is becoming a lean and cold machine as all criminals and disloyal elements are burnt away on the Turkish front (+1 Culture).
The lands around Astrakhan restore their productivity after a few fallow years (+Astrakhan Economy Centre).
A Quiet Night in France
After five years of ceaseless warfare it is finally over, no rockets or cannonballs wizz across the French countryside, no recruiting parties tour the land sucking up the young men, no blood stains the rivers…it is over.
Despite the threat of war still looming in the early months of the year, as Iberia and Aragon withdrew and the English prepared for a face-off with Burgundy, the situation was rescued by the skillful diplomacy of the Holy Roman Emperor Josef III. The great statesman proposed a solution that benefited all too some extent, even if no one got all they wanted. Iberia of course had backed gracefully out of Brittany and received no formal compensation, but she had not suffered any great loss either, and indeed some regarded the entire war as merely a testing ground for the new Iberian army, and the lessons learnt were applied in many other theatres in the year as Iberian turned her attention outwards once again (+1 Iberian Military Leadership). Navarre, ravaged by Alexis’s march also did not receive any compensation, but still was content with the replacement of an unpredictable and dangerous France with their good allies the British, and quietly got on with the business of rebuilding their damaged capital and other cities.
Aragon received what she had fought so hard for; the province of Languedoc and the denial of the Mediterranean to the northern European powers, they even received some compensation and saw the creation of the demilitarized “Duchy of Aquitaine” to secure their north. But despite this the Aragonese king was facing severe criticism; firstly, what they had gained was tiny when compared to the amount that the war had cost in blood and gold, and tens of thousands of people were still refugees in Aragon itself as reconstruction continued. Secondly, the king was seen as weak in not demanding more, as even the Duchy of Aquitaine was introduced by the Germans rather than the Aragonese, the King seeming willing to just give up Toulouse to the British. Finally, both the Duke of Savoy and the Pope, once staunch Aragonese allies were both now coldly furious with the court in Cagliari; not only had Aragon decided to end the coalitions part in the war unilaterally with Savoy and the Papal states gaining nothing, they had not even been informed that peace talks were occurring! (-2 Confidence). The King attempted to reverse this disapproval with a number of far ranging domestic reforms and investment. The reconstruction of Aragon proper continued apace, though the confusing new tariffs the King had introduced hampered the rebuilding on the Iberian Peninsula even as they benefited the cities on the north African coast (which had been undergoing substantial investment for quite some time) (+Oman Economy Centre, -1 Economy). The new parliament merely allowed the nobles to vent their disapproval in a more formal environment, and the full representation of the various regions was met with disapproval by the old families of Aragon, as Genoa and Italy demanded more freedom. What was met with approval was the Kings pledge to stay out of foreign wars until the nation was recovered.
The Duchy of Savoy-Provence received some small gains in the Rhone valley at the end of the war, thanks to Josef III intervention, but the primary change in the small region was in how it viewed its neighbours…and itself. After the seeming betrayal by the Aragonese, relations with that nation distinctly cooled, and Savoy began a plan to compete in the Mediterranean more strongly, with a new fleet and lower taxes on commerce. Its connections with Burgundy increased greatly thanks to the efforts of the Burgundian Prince Ulrich and their shared military struggle, and finally its loyalty to the Holy Roman emperor grew still higher. The most fundamental changes were in its self confidence; it had fought and nearly won a war as part of a coalition, and defeated the old enemy of France. With a new self confidence the old divisions of Savoy and Provence were removed and a new national culture was emerging. There were also rumours that the old Duke Victor had begun to amass support in Imperial circles for Savoy to be named an Imperial Principality on his death, with a Hapsburg to inherit the throne of course. (+1 Culture, +1 Confidence)
Moving onto Burgundy we have another Imperial vassal which had undergone a trial by fire, and performed admirably. The new Burgundian army had proved more than a match for the French and even stood up to the British-French in a few skirmishes at the end of the year. Though having to withdraw from Paris and give up Ulrich’s dreams of his son being king of France, Josef’s peace saw Burgundy increasing its territories by two-fifths, gaining rich lands with a cultural connection to Burgundy that should be easy to hold. The return to normal trade on the North Sea also furthered the rise of Burgundian prosperity (+Zeebrugge Economy Centre), and the rule of Prince Ulrich became ever more popular (+2 Confidence). One sticking point remains over the kidnapped royal daughters of Alexis, which burgundy still has not returned to Britain-France despite repeated requests.
And with that we come to the true victors of what is being referred to as the “Five Years War”, other possible descriptions not showing the complete story, the United Kingdom of Britain and France. Arriving late to the war the dynastic alliance of Britain to the remnants of Plantagenet France has allowed them to claim dominion over most of war-torn land in the final settlement, gaining the western coast, the fertile Loire and Seine valleys, and of course Paris itself. The British have worked hard to rescue France from the economic chaos and famines that were sweeping the land providing vast amounts of firewood and food (-1 Economy, +1 Culture, +1 Confidence), and the wily King Edward has played a slick propaganda campaign with his new son-in-law Alphonse touring, and making speeches amid the rebuilding (+1 Confidence). Their new partners are costing the English a great deal to maintain at the current time, but as the conscripts and even professional soldiers return to their fields and towns the French economy is beginning to recover, and with generous British and Iberian investment even seems to be on the verge of a post-war boom in the next few years with new English farming techniques taking root. Though outwardly protesting at the various territorial losses at the edges of France the English court are probably inwardly pleased, as too large and populous a France would simply drag the English regions into its orbit as occurred in the First Plantagenet empire. The creation of the duchy of Aquitaine was also approved off, for a buffer state works both ways, and it was even less Frenchmen to manage, the small question of who to be Duke of this new nation was filled by the other surviving brother of Alexis – Henry Plantagenet. Indeed it appears Britain-France is on the edge of a true golden age…until the next French war of course.
Market Forces
The Bay of Bengal is an interesting situation economically this year, as two powerful commercial empire gear up for intensive competition, and a number of smaller players make their moves. The two great empires are of course the White Malay and the British, both of whom tried to establish commercial presences in the smaller states of India. The close Madurai links with the Ottomans (and the small remaining Ottoman presence) effectively halted British growth into their markets, whilst the White Malay easily marginalized the remaining Ottoman traders. However this left the British free to focus on Madras, and made significant inroads there. As the locals played the British and the Malays off against one another the city experienced a quite unfamiliar level of prosperity (+Madras Economy Centre). Also on the west coast the Gujarati Sultanate began their first proper forays into international mercantilism with the completion of the great docks at Yumen and increasing ties with all the various nations, especially the White Malay. The Gujarati economic dependence on the Ottomans may now be at an end Bengal too focused its efforts on commerce this year, finely balanced between the east and west it maintain amicable relations with both Britain and the Malays, selling its produce to the great Transshipping conveys of east and west (+1 Bengali Economy).
On the east coast the White Malay had things nearly all their own way as the increasing infiltration of Arakan both dynastically and economically gave great profits to the Rajah and the Gremio of the Peninsula, and the chaos in Indon (see below) freed them of any competition shipping between the Indian ocean and the far east (+2 White Malay Economy). The innovative new tax system certainly helped as well. However there was one fly in the ointment when the ever unpredictable King Mom Pi of Ayutthaya decided that the tariff less trade was damaging his nation, particularly after the White Malay began dumping. Thus in one of his characteristic changes of hearts closed all but two ports (Bangkok and Mergui) to foreign traders, and banned all foreigners except the Sinhalese from entering the nation without strict permits, much to the detriment of the local economies (-1 Ayutthayan, White Malay, Dai Viet, Arakan Economy).
Outside the local area the White Malay were also very busy, as the Rajah gave out royal charters to the Shipping Gremio left and right, and commercial voyages of exploration set out in all directions. Some more islands in the northern pacific were claimed, and an African colony was established to the north of the Iberian cities of Mozambique. The increasing British domination of Madagascar made the Ibero-Malayans hesitant to expand their base there, as it may not turn out to be a long term investment. The trade routes over the southern Indian ocean that the Malay are attempting to develop as an alterative to the Arabian-Colombo route are also beginning to pick up steam as Iberians venture into the far east for the first time in a century.
Speaking of the Iberians all this trade and conquests (see below) are pushing the old commercial empire out of its moribund state and back to its old buzzing self (+1 Economy). But all this growth is happening rather suddenly, and it would be a wise King in Lisbon who considered how to avoid the hyperinflation that so damaged the empire in the past.
As usual the Dai Viet continued to expand their pacific empire, and large profits from trading with the empire in Xaxam are beginning to role in (+Chim đô Economy Centre[1]).
The chaos in the Indon sultanate allows the numerous Sinhalese traders to exploit the vacuum and gain the profits of the Spice Islands exclusively for themselves and their new nation (+Vihaynagaraya Economy Centre).
Military
The South East Asian Pirates take their toll as always.
(-2 White Malay Squadrons, -2 Dai Viet Squadrons, -4 Indon Squadrons, -1 Neva Sinhalese Squadrons)
Pious Work
The Zealots of Moteinemiliz are an infantry force never before seen in the Americas, more like army ants than men, heavily armoured fighters who battle at close quarters. And most importantly, wherever they go, they stay. Such was the fate of the peninsula holdings of the T’ho league in the second year of the serpent war; their mighty fleet battered against the shores of the Acolhuan’s, their hastily raised armies of city folk stood firm and resolute, all ultimately for naught. The fleet was irrelevant, and the Zealots smashed through the militias. Seeing the writing on the wall, the Mayan elite evacuated their ancient capital for the relative safety of Cubanacon along with large segments of the population and the learning of the great temples including the great Academy of Kukulcan.
The Acolhuan’s took most of the year to fully take control of the Peninsula territories, and a steady stream of loot flowed back from the conquests (+2 EPs of Acolhuan loot). However without the Mayan fleets and trading contacts a lot of the value they hoped to gain from the lands is lost (-T’ho Economy centre) and their plans to convert the population and absorb the civilian officials of the Mayan cities have stalled due to the populations resistance, and the great numbers of people who have fled into the southern jungles or overseas. Further plans of Acolhuan expansion were thwarted by the difficult terrain and the mounting costs of keeping such a large army in the field.
Meanwhile in the south the prospect of Acolhuan attack have forced a number of small cities to join the Mayan league, though it did not seem to help the northerners particularly. In the extreme north the stress of the war has left the Mayan colony in the Chitimachamul Delta defenseless, and a number of barbarian tribes have invaded.
(-3 Moteinemiliz Zealot Divisions, - 3 Kukulcan's Slingers, -6 T’ho Divisions, -11 T’ho Irregular Divisions)
Soldiers of the Sun
The Incan emperor struck back against the Chibcha this year, firstly by the unpopular measure (in the south at least, the north certainly saw the need) of raising conscripts and levies to pad out the Incan army, and purchased swords and spears of the grey Viet metal for his best warriors. With this done the three great armies of the Sapa Inca marched north along the great imperial roads. The eastern army struck the Chibcha offensive on the flank and began to push it back to the border on the eastern side of the Andes, whilst the eastern and central armies struck the heart of the Chibcha offensive high in the mountains and at Guayaquil. Though numerically inferior to the Chibcha hordes, the troops of the Sapa Inca were far more disciplined, and slowly and surely the Chibcha were pushed back.
The Chibcha had used the start of the year to invade the coastal regions west of their initial assault, and now they began to loot, pillage and take slaves. The Dai Viet ships and trade outposts in the area, appalled at the destruction and the possible threat to their trade interests, worked to help the local Incans secure the coast. There seemed to by no end to the Chibcha hordes however, and when word reached them of the Chibcha destroying the Imperial roads and halting the Incan advance, the Dai Viet commanders decided to take matters into their own hands and deal with these barbarians. A small Dai Viet force attacked the Chibcha in the far north of the Incan lands and quickly proceeded up the Andes, and caught between them and the approaching Incans the Chibcha offensive crumbled and fled (the Dai Viet not having the numbers to intercept them). Spurred on by their success the Incans and the Dai Viet chased the Chibcha across the border and turned the tables of the war. The Eastern army of the incas was caught in a trap and destroyed, but the Dai Viet and the western armies soon took the capital of Bacato. The Dai Viet raced onwards on their horses and even took a city to the north all unassisted by the Incans, indeed their conquest here were remarkably easy…
(1 Economy level each from the Chibcha to the Incans, Dai Viet)
(-1 Dai Viet Division, -6 Incan Conscripts, -14 Incan Divisions, -13 Chibcha Divisions)
This Blackest of Seasons
“Hope is our most precious coin, and I fear we have emptied our purse” – General Giedrius Paksas, addressing the Riga Congress.
This was a cold winter in Courland-Lithuania in more ways than one; the Russians having decided that to winning this revolt they will have to abandon their policy of attempting to gain the region intact, and declared every single thing a target. Heroic efforts by the Lithuanians had managed to drive out the Russian infestation in the far west of the country by pinning the invaders against the coast, but more and more спецназ and raiders broke through the increasingly porous defensive lines in the east and wrecked a merry hell on the rebels. The newly forged nation was crumbling apart at the seams. However the defenses were mighty, and the defenders resolute and still numerous, and they knew now they had no choice but the fight. The Russians also seemed content to grind away at the Liths and Courish over the course of the year even though no major breakthrough was made, as the Russian victory seemed inevitable.
Indeed the Courish and Liths seemed to believe that as well, as tens of thousands of women and children poured over the border into the Holy Roman Empire, the Poles that manned this section quite content to let them through; perhaps to save those they viewed as their countrymen, perhaps merely to thumb a nose at the domineering Hapsburg emperor. Either way large refugee camps were beginning to form on the Baltic coast and beyond the Polish border, and might pose a problem if not dealt with in some way. The Polish antagonism with the Russians, forgotten in the heady rush of the war with the Turks is back again in full swing after the victories in the Balkans. It is also rumoured that a number of members of the Riga congress also have slipped into Poland, and are forging links with the local polish nobility.
(-3 спецназ, -6 Russian Divisions, -11 CL Divisions, -3 CL Conscript Divisions, -CL Navy)
Non-Military
The Kingdom of Affalon completes its plans to gain influence over the various Mi'kmaq tribes with a score of symbolic marriages and binding oaths. The Throne now has control over all the lands of Nova Hibernia and is beginning to progress into the lands beyond. The Kings hopes to increase his taxation and growth base is still unsuccessful, and it will be many years before the Mi’kmaq will be culturally assimilated enough for his expansionist dreams. The new lands are causing something of a boom in the Affalonian population however, and benefits will likely be reaped down the line.
The Südlichreich invests heavily in their system of workshops and armories whilst lowering the protective tariffs they introduced last year. In truth they are not needed anymore with the damage done to Aragonese productivity it is more the Imperials who will economically dominate rather than be dominated.
The Russian Imperator declares that all resources are to be placed towards the war effort, and delegates some of this duties to the Imperial Senate, Russian is becoming a lean and cold machine as all criminals and disloyal elements are burnt away on the Turkish front (+1 Culture).
The lands around Astrakhan restore their productivity after a few fallow years (+Astrakhan Economy Centre).
A Quiet Night in France
After five years of ceaseless warfare it is finally over, no rockets or cannonballs wizz across the French countryside, no recruiting parties tour the land sucking up the young men, no blood stains the rivers…it is over.
Despite the threat of war still looming in the early months of the year, as Iberia and Aragon withdrew and the English prepared for a face-off with Burgundy, the situation was rescued by the skillful diplomacy of the Holy Roman Emperor Josef III. The great statesman proposed a solution that benefited all too some extent, even if no one got all they wanted. Iberia of course had backed gracefully out of Brittany and received no formal compensation, but she had not suffered any great loss either, and indeed some regarded the entire war as merely a testing ground for the new Iberian army, and the lessons learnt were applied in many other theatres in the year as Iberian turned her attention outwards once again (+1 Iberian Military Leadership). Navarre, ravaged by Alexis’s march also did not receive any compensation, but still was content with the replacement of an unpredictable and dangerous France with their good allies the British, and quietly got on with the business of rebuilding their damaged capital and other cities.
Aragon received what she had fought so hard for; the province of Languedoc and the denial of the Mediterranean to the northern European powers, they even received some compensation and saw the creation of the demilitarized “Duchy of Aquitaine” to secure their north. But despite this the Aragonese king was facing severe criticism; firstly, what they had gained was tiny when compared to the amount that the war had cost in blood and gold, and tens of thousands of people were still refugees in Aragon itself as reconstruction continued. Secondly, the king was seen as weak in not demanding more, as even the Duchy of Aquitaine was introduced by the Germans rather than the Aragonese, the King seeming willing to just give up Toulouse to the British. Finally, both the Duke of Savoy and the Pope, once staunch Aragonese allies were both now coldly furious with the court in Cagliari; not only had Aragon decided to end the coalitions part in the war unilaterally with Savoy and the Papal states gaining nothing, they had not even been informed that peace talks were occurring! (-2 Confidence). The King attempted to reverse this disapproval with a number of far ranging domestic reforms and investment. The reconstruction of Aragon proper continued apace, though the confusing new tariffs the King had introduced hampered the rebuilding on the Iberian Peninsula even as they benefited the cities on the north African coast (which had been undergoing substantial investment for quite some time) (+Oman Economy Centre, -1 Economy). The new parliament merely allowed the nobles to vent their disapproval in a more formal environment, and the full representation of the various regions was met with disapproval by the old families of Aragon, as Genoa and Italy demanded more freedom. What was met with approval was the Kings pledge to stay out of foreign wars until the nation was recovered.
The Duchy of Savoy-Provence received some small gains in the Rhone valley at the end of the war, thanks to Josef III intervention, but the primary change in the small region was in how it viewed its neighbours…and itself. After the seeming betrayal by the Aragonese, relations with that nation distinctly cooled, and Savoy began a plan to compete in the Mediterranean more strongly, with a new fleet and lower taxes on commerce. Its connections with Burgundy increased greatly thanks to the efforts of the Burgundian Prince Ulrich and their shared military struggle, and finally its loyalty to the Holy Roman emperor grew still higher. The most fundamental changes were in its self confidence; it had fought and nearly won a war as part of a coalition, and defeated the old enemy of France. With a new self confidence the old divisions of Savoy and Provence were removed and a new national culture was emerging. There were also rumours that the old Duke Victor had begun to amass support in Imperial circles for Savoy to be named an Imperial Principality on his death, with a Hapsburg to inherit the throne of course. (+1 Culture, +1 Confidence)
Moving onto Burgundy we have another Imperial vassal which had undergone a trial by fire, and performed admirably. The new Burgundian army had proved more than a match for the French and even stood up to the British-French in a few skirmishes at the end of the year. Though having to withdraw from Paris and give up Ulrich’s dreams of his son being king of France, Josef’s peace saw Burgundy increasing its territories by two-fifths, gaining rich lands with a cultural connection to Burgundy that should be easy to hold. The return to normal trade on the North Sea also furthered the rise of Burgundian prosperity (+Zeebrugge Economy Centre), and the rule of Prince Ulrich became ever more popular (+2 Confidence). One sticking point remains over the kidnapped royal daughters of Alexis, which burgundy still has not returned to Britain-France despite repeated requests.
And with that we come to the true victors of what is being referred to as the “Five Years War”, other possible descriptions not showing the complete story, the United Kingdom of Britain and France. Arriving late to the war the dynastic alliance of Britain to the remnants of Plantagenet France has allowed them to claim dominion over most of war-torn land in the final settlement, gaining the western coast, the fertile Loire and Seine valleys, and of course Paris itself. The British have worked hard to rescue France from the economic chaos and famines that were sweeping the land providing vast amounts of firewood and food (-1 Economy, +1 Culture, +1 Confidence), and the wily King Edward has played a slick propaganda campaign with his new son-in-law Alphonse touring, and making speeches amid the rebuilding (+1 Confidence). Their new partners are costing the English a great deal to maintain at the current time, but as the conscripts and even professional soldiers return to their fields and towns the French economy is beginning to recover, and with generous British and Iberian investment even seems to be on the verge of a post-war boom in the next few years with new English farming techniques taking root. Though outwardly protesting at the various territorial losses at the edges of France the English court are probably inwardly pleased, as too large and populous a France would simply drag the English regions into its orbit as occurred in the First Plantagenet empire. The creation of the duchy of Aquitaine was also approved off, for a buffer state works both ways, and it was even less Frenchmen to manage, the small question of who to be Duke of this new nation was filled by the other surviving brother of Alexis – Henry Plantagenet. Indeed it appears Britain-France is on the edge of a true golden age…until the next French war of course.
Market Forces
The Bay of Bengal is an interesting situation economically this year, as two powerful commercial empire gear up for intensive competition, and a number of smaller players make their moves. The two great empires are of course the White Malay and the British, both of whom tried to establish commercial presences in the smaller states of India. The close Madurai links with the Ottomans (and the small remaining Ottoman presence) effectively halted British growth into their markets, whilst the White Malay easily marginalized the remaining Ottoman traders. However this left the British free to focus on Madras, and made significant inroads there. As the locals played the British and the Malays off against one another the city experienced a quite unfamiliar level of prosperity (+Madras Economy Centre). Also on the west coast the Gujarati Sultanate began their first proper forays into international mercantilism with the completion of the great docks at Yumen and increasing ties with all the various nations, especially the White Malay. The Gujarati economic dependence on the Ottomans may now be at an end Bengal too focused its efforts on commerce this year, finely balanced between the east and west it maintain amicable relations with both Britain and the Malays, selling its produce to the great Transshipping conveys of east and west (+1 Bengali Economy).
On the east coast the White Malay had things nearly all their own way as the increasing infiltration of Arakan both dynastically and economically gave great profits to the Rajah and the Gremio of the Peninsula, and the chaos in Indon (see below) freed them of any competition shipping between the Indian ocean and the far east (+2 White Malay Economy). The innovative new tax system certainly helped as well. However there was one fly in the ointment when the ever unpredictable King Mom Pi of Ayutthaya decided that the tariff less trade was damaging his nation, particularly after the White Malay began dumping. Thus in one of his characteristic changes of hearts closed all but two ports (Bangkok and Mergui) to foreign traders, and banned all foreigners except the Sinhalese from entering the nation without strict permits, much to the detriment of the local economies (-1 Ayutthayan, White Malay, Dai Viet, Arakan Economy).
Outside the local area the White Malay were also very busy, as the Rajah gave out royal charters to the Shipping Gremio left and right, and commercial voyages of exploration set out in all directions. Some more islands in the northern pacific were claimed, and an African colony was established to the north of the Iberian cities of Mozambique. The increasing British domination of Madagascar made the Ibero-Malayans hesitant to expand their base there, as it may not turn out to be a long term investment. The trade routes over the southern Indian ocean that the Malay are attempting to develop as an alterative to the Arabian-Colombo route are also beginning to pick up steam as Iberians venture into the far east for the first time in a century.
Speaking of the Iberians all this trade and conquests (see below) are pushing the old commercial empire out of its moribund state and back to its old buzzing self (+1 Economy). But all this growth is happening rather suddenly, and it would be a wise King in Lisbon who considered how to avoid the hyperinflation that so damaged the empire in the past.
As usual the Dai Viet continued to expand their pacific empire, and large profits from trading with the empire in Xaxam are beginning to role in (+Chim đô Economy Centre[1]).
The chaos in the Indon sultanate allows the numerous Sinhalese traders to exploit the vacuum and gain the profits of the Spice Islands exclusively for themselves and their new nation (+Vihaynagaraya Economy Centre).
Military
The South East Asian Pirates take their toll as always.
(-2 White Malay Squadrons, -2 Dai Viet Squadrons, -4 Indon Squadrons, -1 Neva Sinhalese Squadrons)
Pious Work
The Zealots of Moteinemiliz are an infantry force never before seen in the Americas, more like army ants than men, heavily armoured fighters who battle at close quarters. And most importantly, wherever they go, they stay. Such was the fate of the peninsula holdings of the T’ho league in the second year of the serpent war; their mighty fleet battered against the shores of the Acolhuan’s, their hastily raised armies of city folk stood firm and resolute, all ultimately for naught. The fleet was irrelevant, and the Zealots smashed through the militias. Seeing the writing on the wall, the Mayan elite evacuated their ancient capital for the relative safety of Cubanacon along with large segments of the population and the learning of the great temples including the great Academy of Kukulcan.
The Acolhuan’s took most of the year to fully take control of the Peninsula territories, and a steady stream of loot flowed back from the conquests (+2 EPs of Acolhuan loot). However without the Mayan fleets and trading contacts a lot of the value they hoped to gain from the lands is lost (-T’ho Economy centre) and their plans to convert the population and absorb the civilian officials of the Mayan cities have stalled due to the populations resistance, and the great numbers of people who have fled into the southern jungles or overseas. Further plans of Acolhuan expansion were thwarted by the difficult terrain and the mounting costs of keeping such a large army in the field.
Meanwhile in the south the prospect of Acolhuan attack have forced a number of small cities to join the Mayan league, though it did not seem to help the northerners particularly. In the extreme north the stress of the war has left the Mayan colony in the Chitimachamul Delta defenseless, and a number of barbarian tribes have invaded.
(-3 Moteinemiliz Zealot Divisions, - 3 Kukulcan's Slingers, -6 T’ho Divisions, -11 T’ho Irregular Divisions)
Soldiers of the Sun
The Incan emperor struck back against the Chibcha this year, firstly by the unpopular measure (in the south at least, the north certainly saw the need) of raising conscripts and levies to pad out the Incan army, and purchased swords and spears of the grey Viet metal for his best warriors. With this done the three great armies of the Sapa Inca marched north along the great imperial roads. The eastern army struck the Chibcha offensive on the flank and began to push it back to the border on the eastern side of the Andes, whilst the eastern and central armies struck the heart of the Chibcha offensive high in the mountains and at Guayaquil. Though numerically inferior to the Chibcha hordes, the troops of the Sapa Inca were far more disciplined, and slowly and surely the Chibcha were pushed back.
The Chibcha had used the start of the year to invade the coastal regions west of their initial assault, and now they began to loot, pillage and take slaves. The Dai Viet ships and trade outposts in the area, appalled at the destruction and the possible threat to their trade interests, worked to help the local Incans secure the coast. There seemed to by no end to the Chibcha hordes however, and when word reached them of the Chibcha destroying the Imperial roads and halting the Incan advance, the Dai Viet commanders decided to take matters into their own hands and deal with these barbarians. A small Dai Viet force attacked the Chibcha in the far north of the Incan lands and quickly proceeded up the Andes, and caught between them and the approaching Incans the Chibcha offensive crumbled and fled (the Dai Viet not having the numbers to intercept them). Spurred on by their success the Incans and the Dai Viet chased the Chibcha across the border and turned the tables of the war. The Eastern army of the incas was caught in a trap and destroyed, but the Dai Viet and the western armies soon took the capital of Bacato. The Dai Viet raced onwards on their horses and even took a city to the north all unassisted by the Incans, indeed their conquest here were remarkably easy…
(1 Economy level each from the Chibcha to the Incans, Dai Viet)
(-1 Dai Viet Division, -6 Incan Conscripts, -14 Incan Divisions, -13 Chibcha Divisions)
This Blackest of Seasons
“Hope is our most precious coin, and I fear we have emptied our purse” – General Giedrius Paksas, addressing the Riga Congress.
This was a cold winter in Courland-Lithuania in more ways than one; the Russians having decided that to winning this revolt they will have to abandon their policy of attempting to gain the region intact, and declared every single thing a target. Heroic efforts by the Lithuanians had managed to drive out the Russian infestation in the far west of the country by pinning the invaders against the coast, but more and more спецназ and raiders broke through the increasingly porous defensive lines in the east and wrecked a merry hell on the rebels. The newly forged nation was crumbling apart at the seams. However the defenses were mighty, and the defenders resolute and still numerous, and they knew now they had no choice but the fight. The Russians also seemed content to grind away at the Liths and Courish over the course of the year even though no major breakthrough was made, as the Russian victory seemed inevitable.
Indeed the Courish and Liths seemed to believe that as well, as tens of thousands of women and children poured over the border into the Holy Roman Empire, the Poles that manned this section quite content to let them through; perhaps to save those they viewed as their countrymen, perhaps merely to thumb a nose at the domineering Hapsburg emperor. Either way large refugee camps were beginning to form on the Baltic coast and beyond the Polish border, and might pose a problem if not dealt with in some way. The Polish antagonism with the Russians, forgotten in the heady rush of the war with the Turks is back again in full swing after the victories in the Balkans. It is also rumoured that a number of members of the Riga congress also have slipped into Poland, and are forging links with the local polish nobility.
(-3 спецназ, -6 Russian Divisions, -11 CL Divisions, -3 CL Conscript Divisions, -CL Navy)
, perhaps as a propaganda move, perhaps due to some desire to connect with the new nation he desired to lead. Some Ottomans did remain in the new Murad Persia; agents working to restore stability, soldiers training the new Persian armies, but most were redeployed north and west, leaving the Persians to prosecute the war on their own… 
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. The update will not be till next wednesday anyway.
