Growth and Trade
The actions of rogue Dolu and Darians on the border with Darian March have gone unremarked by both parties. It seems peace serves the interests of both parties. The raids have died down as the bloodlust of the on both sides appears to be sated for now.
The Dolu continue to grow peacefully, remaining aloof of the struggles to the north and south. The symbol of Dolu’s growing strength is the great hall of Cradu. King Radu has focused attentions on this new hall, much larger and stronger than the one his father defended twenty years ago. A new generation born in the wake of the war is now growing into manhood. If the Dolu can put this new generation of young men to proper use, they will surely grow great again.
The Hrafn have sent a force of a hundred men into the depths to hunt for metal. In the darkest corners of the ruins they met strange and terrible beasts. These things were in the general shape of a Haecomus, but the details were all wrong. Each abomination differed enough that no description could fit them all. History has seen fit to forget the name of these beasts. Some of the search parties disappeared completely. Many others were killed before the searchers realized the things feared the light of their torches. With the gift of Haeka in hand, the abominations were driven from the hole they hid in. The chamber the Hrafn found was untouched by looters due to its guardians. Within was a haul of metal as great as any ever retrieved from the depths. (3
(!) metal for Assfell , 20 spearmen and 20 archers dead)
As her son the king went south to observe the trial, the regent Jyanna oversaw the growth of his realm. Her objectives were focused on the war in the east, in one way or another, yet they still allowed her people to flourish. Her largest project was the construction of Brandhaus (which means the House of Adalbrandr). Brandhaus was a new city with significant stone defenses. Built largely by slave labour under the direction of Tessil engineers, the city rises out of the plains between the Gnott and Reyli. This town will serve a bastion for the outlying Hrafn tribes to rally around. The raising of the Black Army is detailed elsewhere in this record and we will not retread it.
Many sacrifices were made in both Varica and Assfell to protect both Province and Empire as well as their young rulers. The Hrafn continue to prove their devotion to Haeka and his old ways. This display has had the side effect of stopping Phridian growth in Varica this year.
In other matters, the Tessil left Assfell at the end of the year. They promised to send engineers next year to replace them, in exchange for the same price they were paid this year. The Hrafn discovered a better way to produce vellum from saon. Vellum, which uses saon skin to produce high quality parchment, is much in demand in the more literate parts of Varica like Werhold, Varica city, and Validira as well as the thune cities. Support for the young King remains high thanks to the gentle taxation of the provinces and the loyalty of Jyanna to the traditions of her adopted tribe.
Life in Werhold remains good as well, despite the war beyond its borders. The Kingsmen and tribal thanes continue to rule peacefully, slowly gaining in power as the king remains away on campaign. The Kingsmen continue to expand their two cities. A road connecting the two has just been completed, easing internal commerce. Werhold has built internal roads and attempted to expand the city to its new walls. It has had some luck enticing Gibraly and Romadi, as well as local tribesmen. Thanesburch has seem greater success due to the kingsman’s invitation to Sisiric and Zostor refugees. More than three hundred Thune has accepted the offer thus far. This gives Thanesburch the second largest Thune population in Varica, second only to the Oerdan city of Ernica. Other cities with Thune populations are Varica and Paredor with ~200 thune, and the Rheni capital with ~50.
Support for the war is high and the tribes were eager to answer the call when it came to join the holy war against the Manische. Gifts to their leaders helped this enthusiasm grow further. The warbands marched happily to Rissik under Earl Beriar.
Oerdan today is a nation of fear. Crippled by a sickly king, the thanes fear that they will be drawn into one of the three wars that ravage the nations on three sides of the Oerdan. They have focused their attention on squeezing out Validiran and Rheni attempts to trade with the thune but have done little to slow them.
The Rheni and Nimosans continue to compete for dominance of the seas. Though the Nimosans remain in control, the Rheni are slowly gaining influence in the Thune cities. They are attempting to court Cirici, but the Yumin are intent on blocking them. Their attempts to court the Tessil are yielding greater results. A trade route has been established, much to the chagrin of the Oerdan.
Things among the Rheni are changing rapidly. The king has embraced the introduction of outside ideas. Most notably, he has instituted a council of men from his own and vassal tribes to provide advice and a check to the kings of the Rheni. While the King has entirely appointed the first council, new councilors will be elected by their peers on the council. This has earned the King support for his other reforms, as the thanes see it s a way to protect and even expand their power. The addition of two Condotta, strange refugees from the south, on the council has concerned many. The king’s acceptance of the Condotta and democratic thune traditions are being watched by the populace carefully, but not rejected yet. Phridian Haekism continues to spread here, thanks largely to the arrival of Phridia himself.
The Nakar and Four Claw were consumed by petty squabbling between rival councilors and chieftains for most of this year.
The Romadi and Gibraly continue to grow slowly, complacent and guarded on all sides by friendly provinces or impassable mountains.
King Ban of Bexian faced the greatest trial of his rule. His own brother, Bailan, along with several conspirators, attempted to kill him. The brothers fought and Bailan was killed. The king ordered a purge of the Bexian nobility. The guilty were quickly found and received no mercy. Their heads were paraded on pikes and now hang on the walls of Bexuni as reminders of the king’s strength. King Ban rules was further strengthened by a marriage alliance with Validirian. The Xanfa princess Liliana married Prince Axium of the Bexian in a great celebration. However, his newfound strength with be sorely tested by the arrival of Callista, the Imperial Mother, as a refugee to his court. If King Ban will grant her protection, then she demands he give her safe passage to her family in Validira.
King Ban has ordered a new hall to be constructed In Bexuni for his greatest generals. There, they will share their knowledge with each other and teach what they have learned eager young Bexian. King Ban has attempted to draw men learned in the art of war to his capital to assist him. While he has not attracted many, those he has attracted are of the highest quality. The most notable addition is an veteran thune from Cirici. Cirici is well known for the discipline and courage of its warriors and this thune, Irzki, has an impressive record. He brings with him a Yumin Philote, a Yumin Haecomus warrior trained in the thune style.
Validiran attempts to search their ruins for metals have failed this year. Luckily, none of the searchers were lost in the ruins. Otherwise, peace and prosperity reigns in Validira. Phridia’s teachings expand, Trade with Tessil increases, the marriage alliance with the Bexian has strengthened the King’s position and the populace has rallied behind Callista, supporting the Imperial Mother in her time of need. The war is draining the economy, but not greatly as of yet.
In Huroto the economy is in a shambles. Great portions of Skav have been ruined and its docks have been destroyed. However, the loyal tribes remain dedicated and the Huroto and Lokvar heartlands is are untouched. The economy remains focused on the war effort.
The Sunta are in worse shape than the Huroto. They have spent much of the year focusing on food production and training more warriors. They needed the rest to be able to campaign effectively in the coming year.
The Teral remain out of the conflict in the south for now. Only Haeka knows what they will do, especially with relatives of the Imperial family joining forces with the Teral’s greatest enemy. A difficult decision awaits King Tyrion.
Rumours
A Gamar party has raided a village on the border of the Darian March. They claim that they were simply retaliating for a similar raid by a party Cheminids.
A similar Gamar raiding party has had success against the Nakar. They managed to steal a large herd of cattle from a herd owned by a Councilor.
In the spot owned by the Four-Claw where the man of the western plains danced last year, great hailstones the size of a man’s fist lashed the earth for a short span of time in the early weeks of autumn. Hail is extremely rare at any time on the plains, let alone that time of year or that size.
Nimosan and Rheni traders have been spotted with huge seagoing vessels with great sails in the style similar to the Thune. Ships such as these are unknown throughout the rest of Varica.
A Teral caravan was ambushed by a group of black men. They numbered only a dozen and were easily beaten. Two of the men were slain. It appears they were naked but for a strange black paint they’d covered their bodies in. They were as white as Sunta underneath, similar to the hillmen of the south.
The minor Fulanti tribes of the Boreol have become more active this year, leading small raids against the Ropp, Rokina, and Oerdan. Thus far, only a few score Haecomus have been killed and two small villages lost.
Diplomacy
From: King Goros Snakecharmer, High Lord of the Mountains
To: His allies, the Oerdan, Varth and Paredor
Fear not, men of Varica! While our Manische enemies ride the daemon-birds of myth, they are still lesser men who cannot stand the light of Haeka’s brilliance. They midnight rides are signs of their true allegiance to darkness. But we, the Romadi, have our own allies in nature. The great serpents of the rivers, the Jumanda, have been tamed by our seers. We will ride into battle with the beasts of legend just as they do, but with Haeka’s light behind us, nothing can stop us!
(The Jumanda are the largest snake on Valdis, they have even been known to eat people on occasion. They are constrictors, so they have no venom. They appear often in Varican legends and are just as often heroes as villains, unlike the Yomba, who are always villains.)
The Map
I finally got around to adding the names of cities, something I should have done back in the first game.
OOC stuff
I haven't done stats yet. I thought I'd send this out now though. I don't know if stats will be finished today. Next week I expect half of my classes to be cancelled due to exam prep run by my Korean co-teacher taking the place of my lessons. I have the week after completely free. No classes, just sitting at my desk doing whatever I want and getting paid for it. I hope to get stats out by tomorrow so I can mod the next turn in the exam week. Official deadlines are coming with the stats.
Commanders were really lucky this update. Not a single one was so much as injured except the Lombek thane at the end.
As always, let me know if I left something out or screwed something up.
@Sheep,
You couldn’t afford 200 boats if you spent your entire starting cash on them. You have 40 boats instead. Also, I need you to do a budget next time with specific numbers. Catch me on MSN sometime if you need help.
@Everyone,
I’ve been doing the years wrong I just realized. Update 1 was AF 144 and this year was AF 145. Sorry for the mistake. I was dating from the beginning of the first game, not from the end of it.
@Everyone,
I just noticed this is missing from the rules: It takes a full year for recruited soldiers to be available. This is the time it takes to train. As it was missing, I allowed soldiers raised during this year to arrive halfway through the campaign as a logical compromise. I apologize for this oversight. In the future this rule will apply.