The Southern World
The Nile
On the Nile, “Peace” prevails. Most of the city-states focus inward during this time to stabilize their own regions while shaking their swords at outsiders, and already several friendships were made- Anor aided Damietta against a Pirate raid while Avaris helped secure Middle Egypt of some bandits to secure trade with Abydos. The small states between the Big Five are a different story. More often than not they are successively overrun by bandits, barbarians, or a “friendly” neighbor who will “help”. A familiar community, which once contained all of Egypt, more often than not only held the local group of villages.
It is during this time when legends spoke of a scepter cursed by Bast in the middle of Raas’ the First’s depilated palace. Only by conquering this curse can Egypt be reunited… if the worthy contender can find it first.
In the desert Oasis, two Lybio-Egyptian states defend the trade routes and the fortified wells as best as they can, as the old Lybians, with new friends, return searching for blood.
As for Thebes, they received an influx of Egyptians fleeing the growing Nubian state of Tos-Getha. Reorganizing them as militia, the Thebans were able to stop the northern push at the Battle of the Dasnat Bluffs by pushing through their landward flank with Chariots and trapping their Riverflank when the main army was routed.
With Tos-Getha now ignoring the north (see below), Thebes prospered with an expansion of Quesir’s ports. Although expensive, the cost was mitigated by strengthened trade from Axum which would soon pay off even more when the entire port is completed.
Finally, Thebes sent an adventure to recapture Timna. Although their young army failed, they did manage to frighten the Chiefs of the Copper Vale to send a tribute of high-quality ores to Thebes every year.
In Nubia, we see the Napata Confederacy launch an all out attack on Tos-Getha. Marching right through the badlands, they emerged across the bank from the Gethan capital and laid it under siege. They were on the verge of victory- The Miners of the Highlands rebelled from Gethan taxes, and old Abu-simel also raised a fuss. However, it turned out that the Highlanders staged it as a ruse-they quickly mobbed the Napatan supply lines in exchange for a higher level in Gethan Society. The borders have stabilized between the Grey Nile on the highlands and the Nile itself, with Napatan settlers entrenching themselves into the badlands, which proved fertile enough with their unique irrigation techniques.
Further south we see Kartoros brutally securing the Nile trade routes so that it can still stay competitive with the increasingly profitable Red Sea route. This has triggered the union of various Kuhorsehockye traditionalist tribes into the unstable but militaristic Severi Confederacy.
Meanwhile, Axum established their first overseas colony. Although still relatively close, it provided a safe haven for shippers from Egypt or from the Kuhorsehockye coasts, and increased trade, especially in conjunction with a new series of roads forming a stronger backbone to the mercantile nation.
On another note, the Ethiopian tribes had several years of bloodshed as merchants, traditionalists, and warriors fought over their values. Should they allow all that money pass through without tax? Should they organize themselves or join Axum? The region exploded in bloodshed again just last year.
India
The Rajdom sees an era of consolidation under Raj Vijay, “Victorious”. The fueding Rajpalyas thought he would be a fitting puppet for them to control; they were wrong. And those who resisted were killed by his men. Absolute support of the Rajpalya is demanded, and grudgingly given as stability returns, whether by the furtively clinking moneybag or the bloodied dagger.
In concert with this, infrastructure was greatly expanded throughout Dakinsa Raj, speeding both his interventionalist forces as well as trade. Roads, irrigation, even rudimentary aqueducts (mostly chutes to bring water across small valleys) were constructed, working the people just hard enough for them to feel satisfied and relish the sound of Raja boots, instead of cowering in fear of another petty Rajpaylan conflict. Agriculture reached the watermark before, then exceded it, of the plague and Dakinsa Raj prepares itself to move forward as one.
In the war of the Stellar Crown, the Vanassi Kingdom just finished reenslaving the Yetahorsehockyes, helping the Bengals, when Retokimas, supported by Dakinsan Macemen and funds, attacked. Their large fleet inserted their forces behind the Vanassi front lines in a series of battles, advancing hundreds of mines. At a crucial battle, Kelsi was saved when the King arrived with a force of Bengal warriors and enslaved Yetahorsehockyes hoping to be freed. Wearing the Stellar Crown, he managed to stall their forces, perhaps in time for him to bring out his last gambit…
Mesopotamia
Aramya seems to have reached the limits of her ambitions so far. The army marched once again, across the broken roads and burnt fields of Hyak to fight the Formans. And even as they murdured each other year after year, hundreds of miles from home, the Hyaks destroy and capture supplies, hold sieges, and defended themselves as well as they can. Meanwhile, the Exaltation sees the insidious growth of corruption within its bureaucracy, and the nation slowly separated into various regions as officials contend for control. Governorships are increasingly controlled by local families instead of the distant king.
At least, the Kings still have the army. But even that institution is changed beyond recognition. Ortun became a barracks-town, allowing the trade to be handled by Babylon slighty downriver. And the King of the North soon became the King of Ortun, while the King of the South soon came to become known as the King of Levea. War has made the land tired, little was done to replenish it. The last century sees energy leaking away from Aramya, this century ends with them scrapping at the bottom of the jar.
However, on the surface, at least, things continue to go well. The War with Siria was lost, said many, not due to the lack of will or valor, but because of the meddlesome Hyaks. The roads are in disrepair not because the King of Levea cares not, but because the governors who are constantly being replaced are corrupt. Even as the common man slowly loses trust of the government, they still envy the Kings… be it of Levea or Ortun, almost as gods.
For Siria, they saw only the endless waves of Aramyan soldiers and the constant sting of Hyak raiders. Nearly three times have the King of the North broken through and separated the Forman provinces from the Mosman homeland. Nearly five times have the Chariots broken through the spearmen sentinels to complete the destruction of their internal trade routes. Nearly eight times have they run out of gold and silver to pay for this war. Trade is defiled and Aramyan and Phoenician businessmen soon took mercantile control in the uneasy peace that followed.
As for Hormun and Xiras, both soon became ever disillusioned with continued request for funds. They both refused and although suffered some unrest, became closer for it. Indeed, there is talk of forming a united Hormunite nation, independent of affairs of either Aramya or Dakinsa.