stNNES7: Worlds and Empires
- Thread starter North King
- Start date
das said:
unfortunatley, youve made the mistake in beliving that I care; I already said the bastards we'rent related to each other (at least in any meaningful, or known way beyond ethnicty, and perhaps some broad cultural traits)except that they lived in the same region.
stop looking to be such a condescending know it all, your only setting your self up for a tumble; stop for a second, and smell the orses dammit. thats what i did for a while, and I'm a better person because of it
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
das said:
OOC: a reason i remain very quiet on fresh start neses for the first 5 turns
WarlordMatt
Emperor
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2002
- Messages
- 1,383
Are NPCs permanent? If not I may take one of them. I'm only in one NES right now, need to join some new ones.
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
WarlordMatt said:
None are permanent, but I'd prefer no one take the Harappans in particular, since they are not only quite powerful, they are also going to be suject to a series of unfortunate events.
Insane_Panda
Deity
I sense people from the north....
Anyways, how goes the updaten?
Anyways, how goes the updaten?
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
Update 0: Empires Emerging
Arbitrary Calendar: 2000 BCE*
*That is to say, the first of you who comes up with a better (i.e. pertinent to the NES) calendar, will have it used.
The sands of time are endless and ever shifting; they have gone on for what seems an eternity, with little pause or rest. Out of the sands of time was born a cloud of a different sort, not of sand but of gaseous material... This coalesced into a bright ball of gas, undergoing fusion. The disk that orbited it coagulated into its own little balls, not large enough to blow up continuously like the one in the center, but respectable on most scales.
On the third ball of rock from the star (well, this is sometimes disputed, but oh well), the sands of time blew again, this time nearly literally, great winds blowing across the surface of a planet. The gasses in the atmosphere collected into water, which began to fall and create great pools of life. From here emerged the plants, the animals, everything on the planet.
Out of the great shifting continents, a people emerged, more intelligent than most of their predecessors, if not all. They came to populate the entire planet, spreading an intricate web of filth and glory through the land. Then, somewhere, someone discovered agriculture. Great civilizations were born there, but it was not until the Late Bronze Age that they truly began to coalesce into real empires.
Ironically, this description points to several planets, but it is of course Earth that we are discussing. But I digress...
The empires that began to form on this planet were numerous and varied, their dispersal far broader than the seed of any plant. We shall examine each in turn as they come up.
******************
On an isle renowned for its beauty and grandeur, an isle that had wonders that would fascinate humanity for much of their existence, an isle with great mysterious footprints and a mythic mountain that rained gemstones in the flood season, a civilization emerged.
Living off of the barley, rye, and rice that had been imported from afar, the nation of Arahat grew into its surroundings, its people founding a great city on the northern coast of this rich isle. They were descended from a variety of people, chiefly the dark Sinhalese, but they had a great deal of other races in them; they were of a lighter variety than many.
In any case, the people of Arahat saw their capital quickly grow into a bustling metropolis, an isle of urbanity in a land of promise. The king adopted Hinduism in the meanwhile, and the people revered the ancient dieties even as they celebrated the lushness of their new found home.
But they did not have the land to themselves. Another people, the Veddas, inhabit the deeper jungles of the south. Far from a simple people, they are a complex society in their own right, and the king of Arahat now views them as a serious threat. Perhaps soon they must be dealt with; in the meantime the people await orders from their king.
Across the waters of the straits that separate their golden isle from the mainland, live a strange people called the Pandyas. A rich and powerful nation in their own right, they seem similar to the people of Arahat in many ways, however, they differ in several key respects. Their culture is distinct, certainly, with that of the islanders being much more influenced by other sources than they are, but there might also be a certain profit for the people of Arahat if they manage to conquer this land, as it is rich, especially in the precious commodity of diamonds.
******************
On the other end of a rich an long trade route... Well, not quite the other end, more a different tail of the route, from Arahat, is the Satrapy of the Exiled Arabs.
A fiercely independent people who are true survivors, they managed to barely escape the advance of a ferocious advancing group of barbarians who invaded their home peninsula. Fleeing with their lives, they crossed the Bab El Mandeb, to land in the region of Damot. A broad and rocky coast, it offered few comforts to the refugees, but they managed toagainst all oddsnot only survive, but thrive.
Their new home may be poor in terms of agriculture, but its mineral wealth is not terribly poor, and it also occupies a key strategic position, because by itself, they control half the land between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, and they can easily block off the channel to unwanted passerby. Perhaps these Exiled Arabs can reestablish themselves on the other side of the straits and truly control it, but for now they are content at being the edge of a great trade route that spans half the width of the Indian Ocean.
******************
Weve explored two of the three tails of this massive, multi cultural trade route, and now we explore the head of it: Mesopotamia.
Often known as the Cradle of Civilization (that is, to their own archaeologists, others prefer to use the same name with the word false inserted), Mesopotamia is a varied land all its own, with many cultures that vie for the position of supremacy.
At the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates, the land that literally defines Mesopotamia, the Sumerians have founded many city states. They are a proud people, who hold the belief that they are the supreme keepers of civilization, they believe that they are the greatest that ever lived. In reality, the Sumerian cities are a group with a bloated corpse of a reputation that has survived longer than it should have merely because of the extremely lucrative Indian Ocean trade route. On one end is of course themselves, the purveyor of all goods coming out of the eastern seas, and on the other end are realms known as Meluhha, Arehhett, and Dehmot. These lands have much to trade, and the Sumerians much to trade with them. Thus the Mesopotamians sole source of, say, good cotton, comes from Meluhha, and thus goes through Sumeria.
Further up the rivers is Babylon, a city state of massive proportions, where the city itself is said by some to sprawl all the distance between the Tigris and the Euphrates. Most discount this for fantasy, but there is no denying that it is a huge city, and well walled.
Meanwhile, in the far north lies the rising empire of the Assyrians, a people who are certainly not easily defeated and who have defeated themselves a veritable army of nations; in short they seem poised to dominate Mesopotamia.
But north even of the northernmost Assyrians lies the Kingdom of Armenia. A rich land with significant mineral deposits and decent farmland, it lies nestled under the great Mount Ararat. The people of this high land are quick on their way to developing the heavy cavalryman, and soon that may become a staple of the kingdoms armies.
Meanwhile, while the Assyrians arent exactly the easiest conquest, rich lands lie in the region of Pontus to the east, and those are relatively unguarded... With them comes a sea coast.
At the far western banks of the rivers, lies Syria. A fabled green land of comparably lush and fertile agricultural regions, it is a large and powerful kingdom. Though cut off from direct Mediterranean Sea access by the Phoenician city states, it is still a center of trade, due to its crucial position between Mesopotamia and the Med. This nation is quite rich, in fact, off of the varied trade that flows through the region, and perhaps this can be harnessed to power a great empire...
Meanwhile the Phoenician city states lie ripe for plucking, within the Syrians grasp, if only they reach out for them.
******************
Before we go forward, we go back. The lands of Persia are strange and exotic to outsiders, a sort of cultural melding pot between the developed Mesopotamians and the raw semi-barbaric Aryan hordes. Founded in the arid mountains between the lands of the two peoples, the land is rapidly developing a complex underground irrigation system to harvest the bountiful crops in the local area.
The armies, too, are powerful, and stand poised to strike out of their mountain home down into the weak, Cannanite controlled Sumerian city states.
As for the future, who can say?
******************
Meanwhile, far to the west, over miles of water, is the island civilization of the Minoans. A people with monumental stone architecture, many layered stone temples, and a great cult centered around worship of the bull, they are a sophisticated people whose galleys ply the waters of the Mediterranean looking for trade and perhaps... plunder.
In any case, the island civilization has begun to take over many of the islands in the Aegean in particular, such as Delos and Rhodes, and also the island of Cyprus sits like a ripe plum within their reach to the east... if they can get there before the Phoenicians.
And also, to their north lies the civilization of Mycenae. While it is not a centralized power, it is still a considerable rival to the Minoans, for they have to contend with a well trained and large army to their northern flank. Currently their rivals have no fleet to speak of, though, so it isnt too much of a problem yet.
******************
To the north and west of this area, on the shores of the Sea of Mamara, is the nomad nation that has lately settled down slightlythe Kingdom of Anatolia. This nation is a rather strange one to be had, especially in their area, but it is in a powerful position, and this they can convert to a considerable amount of power overland, as well.
Meanwhile, they hear rumors of roving bands of Hittite chariots to their far southeastwether these have any substance to them is yet to be seen, as are the rumors of Greek settlers on the Ionian Coast to the southwest.
******************
Oh, before we go further, we have to go back again; sadly the moderator has lost all sense of direction. But regardless, here goes.
Born among the papyrus reeds of the river Nile and the dusted sands of the Nubian Desert, the Egyptians are a fascinating group of people with a very deep and rich culture that stretches back thousands of years. Sometimes called pyramid builders, their kings have taken to the idea of building a giant stone stairway over their burial place, to help them ascend to heaven... And dozens of these pyramids have sprung up all over the place. So many, in fact, that there is a huge market for pyramid designers, arrangers, and builders...
However, not all is well in this region. Though the people have figured out on their own how to deal with the Nile Flooding, they are still at a loss as to how to deal with the pesky Nubians to the south... and Egypt is not actually whole yet itself. To their north lies the nation of Lower Egypt, and who knows wether they will prove easy to conquer or impossible to subdue?
******************
Far across the Sahara desert, past the windswept wadis of the Garamantes, past the tiny Berber encampments, lies the land of Mali. A rich land that lies by the Niger River, it is a fertile land in the midst of a land of infertility... and this can be harnessed to power an empire, no doubt.
Meanwhile, they live in the middle of the Sahara, so theres the interesting prospect of much gold to be had nearby. Some say they should just start digging where they are, while others say that Ghana (wherever that is, sources vary), may have more gold.
In any case, the nation of Mali certainly has advantages, but plenty would love to take these from them. The Berbers to the north, for one, and the Ashanti to the south. And rumors speak of more civilized tribes, deep in the jungles to the south...
******************
Again crossing the Sahara, but north this time, we head to the lush valleys and hills of the Italics, of Ravenna.
A massive city state that is by far the most civilized and powerful of all Italia, Ravenna is a growing power that seems poised to dominate the peninsula, even if there are a few Etruscan competitors. Already the city has extended dominance over three other cities, already the empire is forming.
Augmented with powerful fortifications, a strong military, and a rich culture and heritage, the nation of Ravenna is one one should keep an eye on.
******************
But of course, we missed someone. Again! The narrators losing his touch.
So we go slightly to the southwest of Ravenna, over the Med Sea, but not quite all the way over it, into the Balearic Isles. Composed of Majorca, Mallorca, and Minorca, among others, they are the base for a powerful group of pirates who now rove the Med Sea looking for trade. Its a bit of a shame theres no real trade to pirate, as of yet, at least, except in the eastern seas, so for now theyve established loose control over Corsica and Sardinia, and some of their more intrepid bands are exploring Sicily.
If they can seize Sicily and the straits of Messina, then they might be able to secure access into the East. This would allow for a handsome profit due to the hordes of ships that ply the Minoan sea trade...
******************
Fly away to the north, over a couple hundred miles of beautifully wooded land, youll find in a pleasant little valley in northern Gaul, the Frankish kingdom. Founded by an advanced group of migrants from the German movement into Europe from Gotia, this people, centered around Paris, have settled in Gaul, though some are being tempted to call it Frankland.
Meanwhile, the Franks find themselves in a rich land, with plenty of agricultural, mineral, and purely military and political potential. Their armies are already dominant over two Gallic villages, and they may soon expand to dominate the entirety of this new land. Enemies still lurk here and there, of course, but for now, the Franks are supreme.
******************
And a few short pigeon flights away is the nation of the Germans, called, ever creatively, Germany. The nomadic tribes of the region are already settling after their great southward migration from Gotia, and that is fading into memory even now. Meanwhile, this kingdom of Germans is growing powerful, and their village seeks now to extend their influence over their neighbors. They have already subdued one in Pommerania, one on the Elbe, and one on the Oder, but more lie out there, waiting to be conquered...
******************
And yet further to the north, across the choppy waters of the North Sea, lies the nation of the Vikings. A somewhat disorganized lot, they are rather vicious barbarians with little taste for the subtleties of diplomacy. Indeed, they seem rather indisposed to anything but raiding, but at least they picked a decent base for it, with venues to strike in any direction.
******************
Even further to the north, not quite to the line not yet known as the Arctic Circle, the land of Lapponia resides among the cool arctic forests of the north.
An Aurora Borealis might streak overhead as a hunter with his almost wolfish hounds runs through the forest, or perhaps even skis, though this has most likely not been invented quite yet. And it is here, among these dark trees, that a truly northern empire might be built, the empire of the Lapps!
******************
And now we venture over thousands of miles of taiga and steppe, the long distance to the Far East. It is here that another cast group of civilizations has made their home. It is here that we find the other candidates for potential empire.
******************
In the far north again, on the windswept plains of the steppes, the Xiong Nu make their home here, under the vast open sky.
Your generic run of the mill nomads, they are liable to be among the first that truly tame the art of horsemanship. And with this new skill, who knows what the raw barbarians of the steppe may accomplish? An Empire? Conquest of the realms to the south? Who knows...
******************
Of course, the Xiong Nu are far from the only ones running around claiming they are superior. Quite apart from the other Tartars about, the nations of the Warring States to the south lay claim to the mandate of heaven and some are well placed to begin a bid for empire.
In particular are the Song, the Chu, the Shu, and the Tong.
The Song are a sophisticated dynasty who controls the central portion of the Huang He from their capital at Kaifeng. Prolific casters of bronze goods, they are well known for their ornaments, smelting, academics, etc. They are a sophisticated culture, perhaps the most powerful of all the current Chinese powers.
And the entire valley of the Huang He and its attendant watershed seem to lie ready for their use, though there is a certain problem with the nomads to the north.
South of them lies Chu, which is a great connecting state, the linker of all the Chinese states, in an excellent position to expand and get rich. There is the slight problem of Japanese pirates raiding their coasts.
To the west, in the rugged, mountainous country of the upper Yangtze, Shu makes its little homestead. This land is a well watered and temperate land with excellent wealth lying all about it, even if it is a little remote. They are the furthest Chinese dynasty from the heartlands, and they are well poised to begin a systematic campaign radiating into the greater homeland to found a Chinese Empire.
And to the south, in the midst of the barbarian Yue, lies the Tong. They are a proud people who are subject to none, trading with all. And with trade comes influences, many influences. The Tong are readily adaptable, and are influenced by the Chinese to their north, the Yue all around them, and even those from Indochina and Japan. Rich and powerful, these people would do well to expand and conquer.
******************
Last but not least, we cross the troubled waters of the Yellow Sea.
There lies the realm of the Yamato. Well known for their powerful culture, keyhole tombs, and quite a bit of other cultural oddities, they are by far the most likely candidate for uniting the Nipponese islands and establishing a single Shogun.
Against them are arrayed the forces of the Takeda and the Fuji Clans, powerful, ancient peoples with much to lose should the Yamato become any more powerful than they already are. And of course there are the barbaric Ainu in the north who all Nipponese look down upon, and the Yayoi to the south, a people almost as ancient as the Ainu, the first migrants to this island haven.
And past Japan, who can say? For already the Nipponese pirates of the Yellow sea are a terror to the Chinese, and Korea lies only a short crossing away from Nippon. The island realm may seem absorbed for now, but when others have woken the Shogun, no one can be certain of the vengeance inflicted...
OOC: Oi, I know it was getting crappy near the end, but people just... kept... joining.
I promise the next one will be more up to par.
On that note, unless something interesting happens to you (which it nearly always does, dont worry), I wont really mention you much in the update.
Also, just for my own sanity, Im going to put a player cap of 24 players. We have 19 already... You do the math.
Please write many, many stories, otherwise I cant make much of anything interesting happen to you without making much more work for me.
MAP AFTER THIS.
Arbitrary Calendar: 2000 BCE*
*That is to say, the first of you who comes up with a better (i.e. pertinent to the NES) calendar, will have it used.
The sands of time are endless and ever shifting; they have gone on for what seems an eternity, with little pause or rest. Out of the sands of time was born a cloud of a different sort, not of sand but of gaseous material... This coalesced into a bright ball of gas, undergoing fusion. The disk that orbited it coagulated into its own little balls, not large enough to blow up continuously like the one in the center, but respectable on most scales.
On the third ball of rock from the star (well, this is sometimes disputed, but oh well), the sands of time blew again, this time nearly literally, great winds blowing across the surface of a planet. The gasses in the atmosphere collected into water, which began to fall and create great pools of life. From here emerged the plants, the animals, everything on the planet.
Out of the great shifting continents, a people emerged, more intelligent than most of their predecessors, if not all. They came to populate the entire planet, spreading an intricate web of filth and glory through the land. Then, somewhere, someone discovered agriculture. Great civilizations were born there, but it was not until the Late Bronze Age that they truly began to coalesce into real empires.
Ironically, this description points to several planets, but it is of course Earth that we are discussing. But I digress...
The empires that began to form on this planet were numerous and varied, their dispersal far broader than the seed of any plant. We shall examine each in turn as they come up.
******************
On an isle renowned for its beauty and grandeur, an isle that had wonders that would fascinate humanity for much of their existence, an isle with great mysterious footprints and a mythic mountain that rained gemstones in the flood season, a civilization emerged.
Living off of the barley, rye, and rice that had been imported from afar, the nation of Arahat grew into its surroundings, its people founding a great city on the northern coast of this rich isle. They were descended from a variety of people, chiefly the dark Sinhalese, but they had a great deal of other races in them; they were of a lighter variety than many.
In any case, the people of Arahat saw their capital quickly grow into a bustling metropolis, an isle of urbanity in a land of promise. The king adopted Hinduism in the meanwhile, and the people revered the ancient dieties even as they celebrated the lushness of their new found home.
But they did not have the land to themselves. Another people, the Veddas, inhabit the deeper jungles of the south. Far from a simple people, they are a complex society in their own right, and the king of Arahat now views them as a serious threat. Perhaps soon they must be dealt with; in the meantime the people await orders from their king.
Across the waters of the straits that separate their golden isle from the mainland, live a strange people called the Pandyas. A rich and powerful nation in their own right, they seem similar to the people of Arahat in many ways, however, they differ in several key respects. Their culture is distinct, certainly, with that of the islanders being much more influenced by other sources than they are, but there might also be a certain profit for the people of Arahat if they manage to conquer this land, as it is rich, especially in the precious commodity of diamonds.
******************
On the other end of a rich an long trade route... Well, not quite the other end, more a different tail of the route, from Arahat, is the Satrapy of the Exiled Arabs.
A fiercely independent people who are true survivors, they managed to barely escape the advance of a ferocious advancing group of barbarians who invaded their home peninsula. Fleeing with their lives, they crossed the Bab El Mandeb, to land in the region of Damot. A broad and rocky coast, it offered few comforts to the refugees, but they managed toagainst all oddsnot only survive, but thrive.
Their new home may be poor in terms of agriculture, but its mineral wealth is not terribly poor, and it also occupies a key strategic position, because by itself, they control half the land between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, and they can easily block off the channel to unwanted passerby. Perhaps these Exiled Arabs can reestablish themselves on the other side of the straits and truly control it, but for now they are content at being the edge of a great trade route that spans half the width of the Indian Ocean.
******************
Weve explored two of the three tails of this massive, multi cultural trade route, and now we explore the head of it: Mesopotamia.
Often known as the Cradle of Civilization (that is, to their own archaeologists, others prefer to use the same name with the word false inserted), Mesopotamia is a varied land all its own, with many cultures that vie for the position of supremacy.
At the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates, the land that literally defines Mesopotamia, the Sumerians have founded many city states. They are a proud people, who hold the belief that they are the supreme keepers of civilization, they believe that they are the greatest that ever lived. In reality, the Sumerian cities are a group with a bloated corpse of a reputation that has survived longer than it should have merely because of the extremely lucrative Indian Ocean trade route. On one end is of course themselves, the purveyor of all goods coming out of the eastern seas, and on the other end are realms known as Meluhha, Arehhett, and Dehmot. These lands have much to trade, and the Sumerians much to trade with them. Thus the Mesopotamians sole source of, say, good cotton, comes from Meluhha, and thus goes through Sumeria.
Further up the rivers is Babylon, a city state of massive proportions, where the city itself is said by some to sprawl all the distance between the Tigris and the Euphrates. Most discount this for fantasy, but there is no denying that it is a huge city, and well walled.
Meanwhile, in the far north lies the rising empire of the Assyrians, a people who are certainly not easily defeated and who have defeated themselves a veritable army of nations; in short they seem poised to dominate Mesopotamia.
But north even of the northernmost Assyrians lies the Kingdom of Armenia. A rich land with significant mineral deposits and decent farmland, it lies nestled under the great Mount Ararat. The people of this high land are quick on their way to developing the heavy cavalryman, and soon that may become a staple of the kingdoms armies.
Meanwhile, while the Assyrians arent exactly the easiest conquest, rich lands lie in the region of Pontus to the east, and those are relatively unguarded... With them comes a sea coast.
At the far western banks of the rivers, lies Syria. A fabled green land of comparably lush and fertile agricultural regions, it is a large and powerful kingdom. Though cut off from direct Mediterranean Sea access by the Phoenician city states, it is still a center of trade, due to its crucial position between Mesopotamia and the Med. This nation is quite rich, in fact, off of the varied trade that flows through the region, and perhaps this can be harnessed to power a great empire...
Meanwhile the Phoenician city states lie ripe for plucking, within the Syrians grasp, if only they reach out for them.
******************
Before we go forward, we go back. The lands of Persia are strange and exotic to outsiders, a sort of cultural melding pot between the developed Mesopotamians and the raw semi-barbaric Aryan hordes. Founded in the arid mountains between the lands of the two peoples, the land is rapidly developing a complex underground irrigation system to harvest the bountiful crops in the local area.
The armies, too, are powerful, and stand poised to strike out of their mountain home down into the weak, Cannanite controlled Sumerian city states.
As for the future, who can say?
******************
Meanwhile, far to the west, over miles of water, is the island civilization of the Minoans. A people with monumental stone architecture, many layered stone temples, and a great cult centered around worship of the bull, they are a sophisticated people whose galleys ply the waters of the Mediterranean looking for trade and perhaps... plunder.
In any case, the island civilization has begun to take over many of the islands in the Aegean in particular, such as Delos and Rhodes, and also the island of Cyprus sits like a ripe plum within their reach to the east... if they can get there before the Phoenicians.
And also, to their north lies the civilization of Mycenae. While it is not a centralized power, it is still a considerable rival to the Minoans, for they have to contend with a well trained and large army to their northern flank. Currently their rivals have no fleet to speak of, though, so it isnt too much of a problem yet.
******************
To the north and west of this area, on the shores of the Sea of Mamara, is the nomad nation that has lately settled down slightlythe Kingdom of Anatolia. This nation is a rather strange one to be had, especially in their area, but it is in a powerful position, and this they can convert to a considerable amount of power overland, as well.
Meanwhile, they hear rumors of roving bands of Hittite chariots to their far southeastwether these have any substance to them is yet to be seen, as are the rumors of Greek settlers on the Ionian Coast to the southwest.
******************
Oh, before we go further, we have to go back again; sadly the moderator has lost all sense of direction. But regardless, here goes.
Born among the papyrus reeds of the river Nile and the dusted sands of the Nubian Desert, the Egyptians are a fascinating group of people with a very deep and rich culture that stretches back thousands of years. Sometimes called pyramid builders, their kings have taken to the idea of building a giant stone stairway over their burial place, to help them ascend to heaven... And dozens of these pyramids have sprung up all over the place. So many, in fact, that there is a huge market for pyramid designers, arrangers, and builders...
However, not all is well in this region. Though the people have figured out on their own how to deal with the Nile Flooding, they are still at a loss as to how to deal with the pesky Nubians to the south... and Egypt is not actually whole yet itself. To their north lies the nation of Lower Egypt, and who knows wether they will prove easy to conquer or impossible to subdue?
******************
Far across the Sahara desert, past the windswept wadis of the Garamantes, past the tiny Berber encampments, lies the land of Mali. A rich land that lies by the Niger River, it is a fertile land in the midst of a land of infertility... and this can be harnessed to power an empire, no doubt.
Meanwhile, they live in the middle of the Sahara, so theres the interesting prospect of much gold to be had nearby. Some say they should just start digging where they are, while others say that Ghana (wherever that is, sources vary), may have more gold.
In any case, the nation of Mali certainly has advantages, but plenty would love to take these from them. The Berbers to the north, for one, and the Ashanti to the south. And rumors speak of more civilized tribes, deep in the jungles to the south...
******************
Again crossing the Sahara, but north this time, we head to the lush valleys and hills of the Italics, of Ravenna.
A massive city state that is by far the most civilized and powerful of all Italia, Ravenna is a growing power that seems poised to dominate the peninsula, even if there are a few Etruscan competitors. Already the city has extended dominance over three other cities, already the empire is forming.
Augmented with powerful fortifications, a strong military, and a rich culture and heritage, the nation of Ravenna is one one should keep an eye on.
******************
But of course, we missed someone. Again! The narrators losing his touch.
So we go slightly to the southwest of Ravenna, over the Med Sea, but not quite all the way over it, into the Balearic Isles. Composed of Majorca, Mallorca, and Minorca, among others, they are the base for a powerful group of pirates who now rove the Med Sea looking for trade. Its a bit of a shame theres no real trade to pirate, as of yet, at least, except in the eastern seas, so for now theyve established loose control over Corsica and Sardinia, and some of their more intrepid bands are exploring Sicily.
If they can seize Sicily and the straits of Messina, then they might be able to secure access into the East. This would allow for a handsome profit due to the hordes of ships that ply the Minoan sea trade...
******************
Fly away to the north, over a couple hundred miles of beautifully wooded land, youll find in a pleasant little valley in northern Gaul, the Frankish kingdom. Founded by an advanced group of migrants from the German movement into Europe from Gotia, this people, centered around Paris, have settled in Gaul, though some are being tempted to call it Frankland.
Meanwhile, the Franks find themselves in a rich land, with plenty of agricultural, mineral, and purely military and political potential. Their armies are already dominant over two Gallic villages, and they may soon expand to dominate the entirety of this new land. Enemies still lurk here and there, of course, but for now, the Franks are supreme.
******************
And a few short pigeon flights away is the nation of the Germans, called, ever creatively, Germany. The nomadic tribes of the region are already settling after their great southward migration from Gotia, and that is fading into memory even now. Meanwhile, this kingdom of Germans is growing powerful, and their village seeks now to extend their influence over their neighbors. They have already subdued one in Pommerania, one on the Elbe, and one on the Oder, but more lie out there, waiting to be conquered...
******************
And yet further to the north, across the choppy waters of the North Sea, lies the nation of the Vikings. A somewhat disorganized lot, they are rather vicious barbarians with little taste for the subtleties of diplomacy. Indeed, they seem rather indisposed to anything but raiding, but at least they picked a decent base for it, with venues to strike in any direction.
******************
Even further to the north, not quite to the line not yet known as the Arctic Circle, the land of Lapponia resides among the cool arctic forests of the north.
An Aurora Borealis might streak overhead as a hunter with his almost wolfish hounds runs through the forest, or perhaps even skis, though this has most likely not been invented quite yet. And it is here, among these dark trees, that a truly northern empire might be built, the empire of the Lapps!
******************
And now we venture over thousands of miles of taiga and steppe, the long distance to the Far East. It is here that another cast group of civilizations has made their home. It is here that we find the other candidates for potential empire.
******************
In the far north again, on the windswept plains of the steppes, the Xiong Nu make their home here, under the vast open sky.
Your generic run of the mill nomads, they are liable to be among the first that truly tame the art of horsemanship. And with this new skill, who knows what the raw barbarians of the steppe may accomplish? An Empire? Conquest of the realms to the south? Who knows...
******************
Of course, the Xiong Nu are far from the only ones running around claiming they are superior. Quite apart from the other Tartars about, the nations of the Warring States to the south lay claim to the mandate of heaven and some are well placed to begin a bid for empire.
In particular are the Song, the Chu, the Shu, and the Tong.
The Song are a sophisticated dynasty who controls the central portion of the Huang He from their capital at Kaifeng. Prolific casters of bronze goods, they are well known for their ornaments, smelting, academics, etc. They are a sophisticated culture, perhaps the most powerful of all the current Chinese powers.
And the entire valley of the Huang He and its attendant watershed seem to lie ready for their use, though there is a certain problem with the nomads to the north.
South of them lies Chu, which is a great connecting state, the linker of all the Chinese states, in an excellent position to expand and get rich. There is the slight problem of Japanese pirates raiding their coasts.
To the west, in the rugged, mountainous country of the upper Yangtze, Shu makes its little homestead. This land is a well watered and temperate land with excellent wealth lying all about it, even if it is a little remote. They are the furthest Chinese dynasty from the heartlands, and they are well poised to begin a systematic campaign radiating into the greater homeland to found a Chinese Empire.
And to the south, in the midst of the barbarian Yue, lies the Tong. They are a proud people who are subject to none, trading with all. And with trade comes influences, many influences. The Tong are readily adaptable, and are influenced by the Chinese to their north, the Yue all around them, and even those from Indochina and Japan. Rich and powerful, these people would do well to expand and conquer.
******************
Last but not least, we cross the troubled waters of the Yellow Sea.
There lies the realm of the Yamato. Well known for their powerful culture, keyhole tombs, and quite a bit of other cultural oddities, they are by far the most likely candidate for uniting the Nipponese islands and establishing a single Shogun.
Against them are arrayed the forces of the Takeda and the Fuji Clans, powerful, ancient peoples with much to lose should the Yamato become any more powerful than they already are. And of course there are the barbaric Ainu in the north who all Nipponese look down upon, and the Yayoi to the south, a people almost as ancient as the Ainu, the first migrants to this island haven.
And past Japan, who can say? For already the Nipponese pirates of the Yellow sea are a terror to the Chinese, and Korea lies only a short crossing away from Nippon. The island realm may seem absorbed for now, but when others have woken the Shogun, no one can be certain of the vengeance inflicted...
OOC: Oi, I know it was getting crappy near the end, but people just... kept... joining.
I promise the next one will be more up to par.On that note, unless something interesting happens to you (which it nearly always does, dont worry), I wont really mention you much in the update.
Also, just for my own sanity, Im going to put a player cap of 24 players. We have 19 already... You do the math.
Please write many, many stories, otherwise I cant make much of anything interesting happen to you without making much more work for me.
MAP AFTER THIS.
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
Insane_Panda
Deity
Awesome update, and even AWESOMER MAP!
I love it
I love it
conehead234
Braves on the Warpath
Yay update
To: Phoenicia
From: Minoa
Cyprus is rightfully ours and we claim it as ours.
To: Mycenae
From: Minoa
We wish no fighting with our neighbors to the north, how about a 3 turn NAP?
To: Phoenicia
From: Minoa
Cyprus is rightfully ours and we claim it as ours.
To: Mycenae
From: Minoa
We wish no fighting with our neighbors to the north, how about a 3 turn NAP?
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
for the record "I hate the barbaric mongolians!"
your mapmaking skills seemed to have improved nk, story and orders soon.
your mapmaking skills seemed to have improved nk, story and orders soon.
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
Oh yeah, orders ASAP, basically, as quick as it takes you to make them good enough for you to be satisfied with. I'll update as soon as I have enough.
To: Minoa
From: Phoenecia
We'll weep many a tear for you when it's stolen from under your nose, then.
To: Minoa
From: Mycenae
Certainly!
To: Minoa
From: Phoenecia
We'll weep many a tear for you when it's stolen from under your nose, then.
To: Minoa
From: Mycenae
Certainly!
Insane_Panda
Deity
Glory! There will be updates as soon as he has them! THE LORD HATH SPOKEN AND HE HATH SAID THAT THEIR SHALL BE A PLENTIFUL FEAST AS LONG AS THEE BRINGETH HIM BOUNTIFUL HARVESTS FROM THE BOSOM OF THE EARTH.
conehead234
Braves on the Warpath
There are no stats for Phoenica.
Orders tonight or tomorrow morning.
Orders tonight or tomorrow morning.
Cuivienen
Deity
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2003
- Messages
- 8,011
To: Emperor Ashurbanipal of Assyria
From: King Miltades of Armenia
The King of Armenia greets you most graciously, friendly neighbour. We wish to be friends with your people, and, to this end, we propose an agreement of peace to last five hundred years! (OOC: A five-turn NAP) We also wish to propose the marriage of our daughter, a buxom girl of 13 years, to one of your sons to strengthen this pledge of peace.
From: King Miltades of Armenia
The King of Armenia greets you most graciously, friendly neighbour. We wish to be friends with your people, and, to this end, we propose an agreement of peace to last five hundred years! (OOC: A five-turn NAP) We also wish to propose the marriage of our daughter, a buxom girl of 13 years, to one of your sons to strengthen this pledge of peace.
Insane_Panda
Deity
Oh, and how many of certain things do we get per eco spent NK?
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
To Song
From Shu
3 turn NAP it is
To Chu and Tong
From Shu
Would you accept a 5 turn NAP?
From Shu
3 turn NAP it is
To Chu and Tong
From Shu
Would you accept a 5 turn NAP?
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