Terrance888
Discord Reigns
Update 10
Experience and Entropy
500 Years into the Bronze Age (2550-2500 B.C.)
Experience and Entropy
500 Years into the Bronze Age (2550-2500 B.C.)
The lessons of the first Experiment are ignored by some, and accepted by others. People are getting more used to being led to glorious victory to gloomy defeat, and are becoming more productive than ever before due to growing periods of prosperity and stability.
Yet, even now, nations fall apart, barbarians rally in the distance.
The second phase of the experiment-explosive agitation-is about to begin.
LEVEA
"What do I desire, Sirians? Merely to see you bend knee before Takarzi."-Baragan-sar in response to the Sirian delegation
The boundaries between Levea and the Levant grew ever smaller until the spread of Kitabalism became established of Phoenicia, when the entire middle-eastern region is now called Levea. What once was the name for the land south of Ortun and north of Irud now names all from the Levantine Sea to the Levean, from the Semetic Desert to the Moserean Mountains.
The Sirian Empire was the newest victim to fall to the Hyakkite. The Union of Phoenicia also took advantage of Sirias weakness to submit the oft-trouble some city of Damascus under their rule. Meanwhile, the Mosereans are developing new ideas and traderoutes thanks to the comparably mythically developed Etassites, and brought home both a windfall from the razing of Sirian villages, and a large chest of tribute from the Hyakkites to the Etassians. To the south, the Exaltations continued to squabble and build up their power, as Boukae relentlessly pushes its way into the heartland.
This is where, a century ago, our forefathers held the Aramyans. And this is where, we today, MUST hold the Hyakkites! To battle!-Kalarel-Sar of Siria
The Hyak army pushed forth once again against the Sirians on their fourth campaign. There was a plan to invade through the Tigris river to force battle or besiege Mosul. However, after fierce discussion a much better plan was instated- they will push up the Euphrates and cut off the desired provinces from Damascus, securing their flank when they attack Mosul. This will also ensure that they will have the most supplies, the most tactical opportunities and hopefully a better chance at catching the Sirian force in open battle. To aid them, money was sent to various Moserean tribes to raid Mosulian Siria.
And this was the nearly same plan which was used a century ago, at the highest tide of Aramyas advance.
Northward they pushed, and northward the Sirians retreated until they reached the ancient fortifications. There they rallied and launched a counter attack. In the ensuing Battles of Tuttul, Laren managed to cut Sirian access to the bridge, giving Baragan-Sar the opening to crush first one half of the Sirian Army, then the other, using his new Qarabu Kalbanatu Axemen (similar to Katan Solarians he fought in his mercenary days) to slice open their lines. When they tried to fight their way back, the Hyakkite forces, unlike the Aramyan a century ago, managed to stay their ground and punished the returning forces. Turning the Sirian fortifications against them, they held out in Tuttul for reinforcements. (Hyak: -3 Spearmen (1 at 3.0) -1 Archer +1 Spearmen/Chariot XP)
With the Damascans cut off and busy with the Phoenician invasion, the Hyakkite army focused on Mosul. He hounded the retreating Sirians, who suffered defections and raids. Their half of the army, distracted by Morsean invasion, was crushed north of their walled city at the battle of Nibis, forcing the remnants to retreat to Mosul. There, the Lord Derroni declared that they will fight to the death. When the news of this reached the people in the besieged city, they rioted, and, when lead by Tarkazi agents sowed within their midst, marched into the palace themselves and deposed the King, surrendered to the Hyakkite Army, and accepted a new ruler from Alamhadat. (Hyak: +Urban ++Domestic +Confidence; -1 Spearmen -1 Archer)
The head of Derroni was sent to his uncle, King Kalarel-Sar, besieged in Damascus with the message from Baragan-Sar.
"You can hold us no more than you can hold dust in your outstretched fingers." it said.
Kalarel-Sar was fighting another war of survival. The ancient maxim of Siria has come true- that if divided, they will be easy prey. And so when he failed, Phoenicia saw this war as a chance to reimpose stability in both their trade routes and in the internal disputes in their union.
And so Phoenicia invaded, and so Kalarel-Sar was hounded on all sides. And so Damascus itself was besieged, its great walls barely held by his militia, when the message arrived in his study.
And so he made peace with Phoenicia, declared that he will support them and be their new borderland against the rising (and frightening) power of the Hyakkite Empire. And with his surrender rose the Levantine League, more united than the Union of Phoenicia with a council of representatives headed by the union of the Prince of Tyre and Kalarel-Sars daughter. (+Levantine League)
In terms of war, Boukae continues to push into Levea, using Irud as their base. Against the Danaen, they could not move against their growing fleet and their increasingly professional army. However, there is much to fight in Virias Hitherland, and so there they invaded. Viria was hard pressed and lost some valuable borderland, but they too managed to use their fleet well in outflanking their opponents. Boukae would need to master both the sands and the sea to invade deeper into Levea. (Danae: -Warriors+Spearmen; Viria Ships; Boukae Ships +1 loot)
When has war been bad for business? You just need to know how to dodge it, thats all.-Merchant Prince Jasha of Danae
Between the War of Siria and Boukaes expansion, as well as the endless raids between the three Exalted states, economies continue to develop and trade continues to slowly grow.
The new Hyakkite kingdom made a deal of securing their infrastructure. This became especially important after the War with Siria ended, as trade resumed the new roads proved themselves useful at moving goods throughout the region.
Parusha saw its unique position with glee. A merchant caravan can travel all the way to the sea after crossing only one border. To help facilitate trade further inland, as well as to help them shift their chariot forces, they projected a new road system.
Viria and Danae were rather busy against the Boukans, but that doesnt mean they ignored their own infrastructure. They, too, put effort in stabilizing the infrastructure which was not maintained since the invasion of Southern Levea by the Last Dual King.
The Exaltation of Hormun saw a unique opportunity after their unification. Once more, they contolled the straits, and once more, they sought to squeeze as much money as possible from the growing trade. So they started a new project to ensure their commercial superiority.
Meanwhile, the Levantine League developed the first known drydocks in the world. They would have a reservoir and a shingled bed. Opening the gates, they would have enough water in the shingles to pull a ship up, close the gates, and repair the ship. The reservoir was refilled by tides on the other side of a peninsula. They will build a system of such docks to try to reduce the exorbitant costs of maintaining their vital fleet.
And then, away from it all, we have City-state of Etass and the nearby Moserean tribes.
The Mitanni tribes also worship Kitabalism, but a much more simpler version that existed in the days when the first cornerstone of the Library of Sarte was laid. They alternatively fought and traded, and a traveling clan of Mosereans, who claim Moser as their ancestor, preached, traded, taught, and fought.
Etass used these trading connection to establish themselves closely to the various tribes. For the first time, significant trading operations started as their forges cried for copper and tin. The land was irrigated and rain was captured in cisterns. A large amount of specialists and military guards brought with the Royal Family were maintained with their funds, although eventually the small state had to let them become ancestral positions. Continuing with the idea of a small aramya, they built a small library, a small council house, and a small palace and kept their southern traditions alive as they built new ties with the natives.
Koyun
Im bored. Lets invade someone. First Highking of War, Fire Lord of KatanIn Koyun, the Koyulun Kingdoms fought a short war. A Katanic Army marched north from Alderia to the Golden City of Keres, where the Keretites put up a good fight, but were inevitably scattered by the Solarian axemen. Moving quickly, the Kingdom established a Highprince of War and demanded loyalty from the rest of the Keretic kingdom.
Although the more southernly regions simply surrendered without a fight, the recently conquered regions resisted conquest. In addition, a formerly Trojan city defected to the Makedonians. However, by all rights it was a master stroke- in one clean cut, the head of the Keretic Kingdom was replaced by one much more friendly to the Highkings of War. (+1 Urban +2 Domestic +1 Trade +2 Loot -4 Spearmen, 2 Spearmen/1 Solarian+1XP)
They also begun securing their hold over various other conquests, building both roads and ties with the locals. This has kept their administration relatively efficient despite their greatly increased size, and the new roads let them nip several border-march rebellions in the bud.
Northward, the Makedonians united when the news of Byzantinon Blasphemy reached them. (see Eastern Seas) In central Koyun, far from the limits of Katanic power, a new center of trade is growing.
The Eastern Seas
NOOOO! The wheat MUST FLOW! -Various cities as the Wealth of Wheat disappearedWar.
War has arrived with the clash of blade on shield.
War has arrived with the smashing of wood into flesh.
War has arrived with the sliding of a hidden blade into anothers back.
War has arrived a generation after the House of Justice threw out the House of Atlantis from the throne of Byzantinos.
As Justinian sought to unite his nation on a new spiritual foundation, the Exnotist peoples of Makedonia and Altyria rose in anger. Even those sworn to the Emperor threw away their oaths of loyalty and declared that they will fight. And yet, even as the region brew against the Byzantinon throne, voices of alliance appeared in the darkness. Thloyrn, staunchly Zirilist, approved of the weakening of Exnotist rivals and a chance to strike harder against the Makedonians. And the Varnans, wary of Trimls goals concerning the Bosporus, declared in favor of Byzantinos as the people threw out all traces of Altyrian culture they can find.
Amid war, the Wealth of Wheat died. No longer shall the wheat flow as evenly as it did before, as thousands of granaries are empied for seize, or burned in retribution. No longer shall wheat feed the cities across the Central Sea as war closed trade and destroyed merchants.
The war started with a proclamation. The Emperors of Byzantinos are sons of the one and true god, the Sun God. No longer shall Exnotism hold sway within the Emperor, for all shall worship the Emperor. And the Army swore allegiance to the Emperor, he who has lead them to victory after victory. And the towns swore allegiance to the Sun God in his name, for he has tamed the wild frontiers. And many of the commoners, be they skeptical or not, preferred to appear to worship the Sun God, who at least seemed to aid them more than the distant Exnot.
And yet, as the Empire of Byzantinos seemed to unite around his figure, it only let his enemies unite against him. Triml has many mercantile contacts within the government and the cities of the Empire from his former heritage as scion of the House Atlantis. The Makedonian Hordes, longtime allies of the City on Two Lands, rebelled against his rule. And a fleet once destined to end barbaric and heretic peoples on the eastern coast of the Fallen Sea is now sent to end the barbaric and heretic Emperor on the Throne.
The first battle started out at sea, merely hours after the declaration of war arrived on the table of Justinian. At first, it was a skirmish as a squadron was caught by surprise the great Convoy of Atlanyin soldiers. As signal fires were lit and smoke rose in the air, over two hundred warships clashed at sea. Both fleets were experienced at fighting pirates and other fleets, and both once fought together against the Pirates of the Fallen Sea, but all that is forgotten as brother fought brother, client fought supplier, and warrior fight warrior. Eventually, despite Byzantinon edge in pure fleet combat, the Atlanyin Wolfships divided their fleet, sending them retreating but not routed. (Byzantinos-5 Curraghs (1), -15 Curraghs (.5), +10 Curraghs .5 XP) (Atlanyin -3 Curraghs (1), -6 Curraghs, +5 Wolfship XP +10 Curragh XP)
The enemy army will have to either retreat or make a suicide attack without supplies-Justinian, Emperor of the Sun, Lord of Byzantinos, on hearing of the Battle of Eridine
As the Atlanyin established a beachhead of Eridine, defeating the garrison and the small walls there, other forces marched for both sides. The Makedonians advanced into Gallipoli. Although Byzantinon forces defended furiously against their enemies, betrayal by more staunchly and secretly Exnotist opened the gates as the Exnotist forces united before the triple walls of Byzantinos itself. Meanwhile, the Thloyrn and Varnan fleets arrived in Byzantinos, to fight the combined forces of Exnotism, to resist the growing power of the Atlanyin Empire.(Byzantinos: -1 Spearmen -1 Archer)
Then, the foes continued to maneuver for advantages. In the northern Aegean, the Thloryn Squadron there was chased off by a surprisingly well trained fleet by Makedonia, allowing them to push reinforcements for their Koyun brothers. In the farsouth, a Thloryn fleet was caught between a surprise attack by Spartan Archers and a Spartan Fleet, utterly destroying it and allowing the Spartans to recapture Cornith in decisive battle. The Supply fleet from the north for Atlanyin was driven off in an surprise attack by Varnan forces (who themselves were driven off by the main fleet). Armies march towards Byzantinos while Solarians (of the Byzantinon variety) poisoned wells and burned crops. (Atlanyin: -5 Curraghs Some Supplies)
Our army cannot retreat, so we must complete this attack. Damn the supplies! They are not needed.-Triml the Second, Prince of the Fallen Sea, on hearing of the flight of their supply ships
The final stage of Atlanyins plan was pushed forward. Makedonians swarmed the triple walls while Byzantinon Spearmen fought back. The main Atlanyin fleet offered battle to the Allied Fleet, now totaling more than the amount which fought almost a year ago by this time. While leading the Allied fleet to gullies where their Wolfships have the advantage, a covert force of highly trained and experienced Terror Hounds and Spearmen, honed by years of pirate warfare, landed in the Harbor itself and fought a path towards the palace. At the same time, the gates were opened after confused fighting as layers upon layers of plots were revealed, as Solarians and Exnotist double agents fought for the control of the Gatehouse, one of them was finally opened.
And in swarmed the Makedonian horde. They, who burned Troy to the ground now find themselves within Byzantinos. The First of the triple walls was breached.
And Triml the Second led his Terror Hounds deeper. He was in the second layer of the Triple Walls and the Palace was in all respects, more of a citadel. His only chance is to open the Second of these walls to let the main army deeper. His Terror Hounds drove away many of the new, untested recruits but did not faze the hardened Veteran Imperial Solarians, who dulled his advance.
And thus, the battle hung in balance when the news came that the Atlanyin Fleet was, surprisingly, defeated. They had destroyed the Varnan fleet, and forced the remnants of the Thloryn navy to retreat to the crisis at home, but the inexorable Byzantinon sailors pushed forward against the flanking Wolfships, finally forcing them to flee to safer waters.
And, as the fleet arrived in the harbor to cut off Triml the Seconds retreat, he has opened the second gate. Ignoring the foes behind them, they pushed towards the third and final wall, that surrounding the Palace itself.
There the Imperial Guards of the Emperor Justinian, Son of the Sun God fought the Terror Hounds, Guardsmen of Triml the Second, Prince of the Fallen Sea and the True Heir of the Byzantinon Throne. There, the Emperor killed the young Prince, stepping over his resisting body to stab into his heart. And there, he stood smiling, ready to turn the tide. And there he died, killed in the fog of war as he smiled, killed as the young dying prince stabbed into his chest.
As the fog of war ended, everyone except the Makedonians lost.
Atlanyins Dynasty ended in battle, for Triml and his heirs died in their gamble.
Justinians support collapsed with his death, for how could a son of God die from a dead man?
Varna now takes her revenge on Altyria while a civil war rages, and those governors who survived schemed for power. It was only when their army sought to march on Altyr itself when they finally united.
Makedonia returned with a professional army, curdesy of the Mountain King of Makedonia. The walls of Byzantinos, manned by neither soldier nor spirit, fell.
The fallen were buried at sea.
The fallen sea.
The Western Seas
NOOOO! The wheat MUST FLOW! -Various cities as the Wealth of Wheat disappearedIn the Western Seas, life goes on almost as normal. Barbarians are pushed back, nations consolidate their power, religious tension provides amusement for nobles everywhere as overall peace prevails. We see Sardican power stabilize as they successfully defended their borders against intrusion. We see Zirilist power expand as they recaptured the Samnite coast. We see both the continued dominance of Ctesiphod as well as the growing power at Mediolaun and Provence, and the growing influence of the Faith among the exiled Longbardians and the farmers of the Sardican Empire.
In the Sardican Empire, fiscal foresight led to a large treasury, which was gleefully spent this year to secure their wide-spread territories. Their projects were forwarded and moved ever closer to completion while permanent garrisons were established at the growingly accepting men of Krete and Iberia.
Sorry sir, I was too busy dying of thirst to kill any bandits-Sardinian Soldiers fighting Lybians
They established their influence and tolerance in establishing the New City in Cyrene, after forcing the Lybians to back off into the desert. No taxes, no slavery, no oppression. It is soon becoming the New Ctesiphod as at first a trickle, then a flood of migrants from the Eastern Seas quickly boasts it to the size of a great city. In the countryside, the massive influx of troops garrisoned the oasii and pushed the Lybians to the sands, where there are still unknown sanctuaries the Sardican army cannot find. Many Sardicans perished and sacrificed themselves in order to give the city enough security to allow its explosive growth to continue. (Sardican:+1 Urban +1 Domestic -2 Warriors -1 Archer +1 Confidence)
For the Zirilists of Toras-Noth, times are good. A well-funded army surprised the Longbardian raiders, who were expecting a somewhat smaller response. Smashing through their defenses, they slowly but inexorably rounded up the Longbardians for sale, while marching behind in equal resolution are Naffas-Nothan recolonists reclaiming old land.
This has done well for their economy. Zirilia is becoming a densely urbanized region, indeed. Although there is somewhat of a glut in the slavemarket, with the wars in the Eastern Seas and all, the excess were put to use in building massive farms in the backcountry to feed the growing cities. Indeed, by this time most of the merchants in the Central Ocean are Zirilists, living by its code of perseverance, reverence, curiosity and trust. Toras-Noth has once again become a religious center, envy of the Central Ocean. (+XP for army, +3 Urban income +Religious Center +1 Domestic)
Valyria shall Rise Again!-battlecry of the growing Longbardian-Sarkish confederacy
Of course, reckless slave hunting and invasion does not have no consequences. Many Longbardians escaping into the ashlands found common purpose with the Sarks. After a generation of intermingling, a Sarkian confederacy is emerging, combining the fanatical Faith of the Sarks with the agricultural proficiency of the Longbardians. The Ashlands were fertile again, or at least enough to found a great regrowth of Sarkish population. (+Sarkish Confederacy)
For the Cytrian States, great monuments were designed as their power reaches new heights. Mediolaun rebuilt Genoa to its former glory, and started to build an Oracle of the Ancestors, so that the whispers of the departed can continue to speak to the living.
Its Its HUGE!-Rumen's reaction to planned size of the Colossuss uh weapon.
Ctesiphod begins new projects as its regions become ever more independent, yet dependent, upon each other. A great Colossus, representing the massive influence of Ctesiphod on local and regional politics and the power of the united Rumenholds, is planned at the harbor of Rasade, capital of the Apulian Rumenhold. In addition, a great Harbor is designed to be there as well, to be built on a massive scale, it will contain military and commercial docks and markets as well. Interest is flourishing and many move to the growing city to simply stand in awe at the great projects before pitching in themselves. (+1 project progress)
Roads are constructed between Pella and Epirus, increasing trade between the Halls of the Mountain King and the Rumenhold of Pyrrhus, lead by the legendary Hall of the Pyrrhuc Kings. Between Aphod and Mencua settlers and criers slowly swayed many of the valley folk into selling land or joining the Rumen Council. However, in the hills, a proud clan forbade any member of their tribe from defecting and turned back any settler who tried to set up a farmstead, but still eagerly accepted merchants. (+1 trade +1 Domestic)
Iberia and Provence both have prosperous years of slow expansion, using gile more often than force.
There are two events which affected the entire region of the Western Seas.
Firstly, the conflict between the Zirilists, Faithful and Ancestrial believers is increasing. Although Ancestrial and Zirilist ports are barred from Faithful merchants, and, indeed, Zirilist merchants controlled the seas, the Faithful found huge followings among the farmers and common people of the Hegemonic Sardican Empire, who follow their teachings of Loyalty and Disipline. In addition, the Sarkish Confederacy also follow a variant of the growing Faith.
Secondly, the Wheat trade ended. There was a sudden decline of population in many areas such as Zirilia, Ctesiphod and such massive trade cities which relied more on their contacts rather than their already strained local production. Famine is the name of the game for a decade or so, until the growing slave-farms of Zirilia finally caught up to, and slowly exceeded local demands. Opening farms at Illyria and the Samnite Coasts also helped alleviate some of the pain, but it is still felt across the Western Seas as this lucrative trade simply disappeared from the map.
Part 2
Map and Stats