NERFSNES - Boring Times

NERFSNES
Boring Times

Introduction
NERFSNES stands for Not Exactly Realistic Fresh Start NES. This is mainly just a NES inspired by the Advanced Fresh Start NES and the NESes floating about recently, with my personal goal as the moderator to tell a simple story of a possibly improbable world with possibly improbable characters but is hopefully ultimately just believable enough not to be completely stupid but unbelievable enough to be interesting and fun. Of course, those are just my ideals and in reality this is “just another rules-lite fresh start NES in its BT stage.” So, with that said, lets begin by getting grounded with the basics.

Players
Anyone can join, provided that you abide by the following rules: (1) you will write understandable, easily-readable orders, (2) you will do your best following instructions for the players for the appropriate turns or phases of the game, (3) you will write stories that define things within and without the entity you control every now and then, stories which are hopefully not completely ridiculous, (4) you will not gripe if elements of your stories are changed at the unquestionable whim of the moderator, (5) you will argue with the the moderator if you find anything severely unrealistic, and this overrides number four, (6) you will not ask for updates until one day after any promised deadlines, and (7) you have read and will continue to read the first post.

Information
This has been given and will be given on a turn-by-turn basis during these Boring Times, but there are general things you would need to know. First, each turn will cover different time periods each. Second, things—that is, big things—happened in OTL I probably don't know about, so if you think something big happened somewhere in the world which would probably affect players, let me know. If you don't, you will be swimming in the cesspit of your own inadequacies because this is a cooperative effort between the moderator and the players, not just a competition between the players or a blank book on which your masterpieces of civilizations may be written. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Updates
These will be relatively short, at least compared to the novels some people write around here. Since I put up this NES as an exercise for myself, I hope these will come regularly as scheduled. Hey, while waiting for the update, why not work on your stories and their readability or giving the moderator information he requests instead of spamming the thread up with anxiety posts?

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Turn 3 Info
Stab things please

I'm ripping things off paying homage to das if you hadn't noticed. This turn will last from 500 BC to 200 BC. The higher resolution from this point on is indicative of the abilities of peepz in that period; do amazing stuff with them! For this turn I want single-post ORDERS for all peepz you want to write orders for. Simple, concise ORDERS. Stories are NOT MANDATORY (if that was what you were thinking), but are GREATLY APPRECIATED (as long as they are not late, i.e. posted after I say I start working on the update). I have valid reasons as to why I can't be online all the time, part of which is that I will go bankrupt if I was.

Update will be up in APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS, if you guys give input. INPUT. ORDERS DEADLINE: December 17, 2008, 6:00 PM GMT+8.



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The Voluminous Tomes of History
Also known as the Index of Stories and Updates



Vis-a-vis OTL: Dalran is Mesopotamia, Tuheena is Crete, Dehanes is Anatolia, Taurusia/Tauria is Italy, Sar River is Oxus River, Sadion is Cyprus, Gobrek is the Levant,

[OOC: I've never participated in an NES before, so please tell me (nicely) if I'm doing something wrong. I've read through the FAQ.]

Kahnawake

Keeping in with the rivers theme, I'm going to attempt an empire on a river system that never had one in real life: the mighty St. Lawrence River.

Civ Name: Kahnawake
Capital: LawrenciaLahrenakun
Ruler: Mikmak

Initially beginning as a collection of villages with familial ties through marriages, the Kahnawake subsist primarilly on fishing in the abundant waters at the mouth of the St. Lawrence. Great Leader Mikmak organized the villages in his area along the already-existing clan system as a means of inviting inter-village trade and distributing food when times are rough. Lately Mikmak has moved his family and their residence farther south along the river to be closer to their fur-trapping neighbors, with whom they trade.

Culturally, the Kahnawake resemble our history's northeast woodland Indians, with a strict family/clan caste system similar to our history's northwest coast tribes. Their neighbors to the west trap furs, which they are able to trade for fish, and neighboring tribes to the south -- little more than unorganized, individual settlements -- have begun to experiment with agriculture. North of the Kahnawake is sparsely settled, but there is abundant timber there for the taking.

Villages
Simcoane (Mikmak's original settlement) -- at the mouth of St. Lawrence River
Lahrenakun (Kahwanake capital, founded when Mikmak moved downriver)
Onotokun (still farther downriver, toward the Great Lakes)
Tahontae (south of capital)

Neighboring peoples
Attignawa -- deer-hunting people to the north of the Kahnawake. They have a lower population than the Kahnawake, and their settlements are far apart. In fact, their language runs a spectrum of dialects distant enough that a dialect from one end of their territory is unintelligible to an Attignawan from the opposite end.

Tionoti -- "Tobacco People" living just to the south of the Kahnawake. On friendly terms with the Kahnawake, whom they see as convenient trading partners. Have begun agriculture -- mostly squash and beans -- and of course, tobacco.

Wendanawa -- fur-trapping peoples to the west. There has been some intermarriage between the Wendanawa and the Kahnawake towards the western end of Kahnawake territory, to the extent that Wendanawa-led families are starting to form a sort of lower caste among the naturally biased and stratified society of the Kahnawake. Likewise, Kahnawake families in Wendanawa society are seen with some distrust, but for the most part the Wendanawa are on friendly terms and active trading partners with the Kahnawake.

People
Mikmak -- ruler of the villages comprising Kahnawake territory. Seen as the "Great Organizer" for his diplomatic ability. His "court" (a consortium of high-ranking households in his village) has compiled an unwritten code of laws dictating rules for the fair distribution of supplies between villages, and rules over which households may inter-marry.

Mohonok -- Mikmak's brother, overseeing the village of Simcoane

Meherrin -- chief of the Wendanawa tribes, ruling from the city of Skandari at the eastern end of Lake Ontario.

Confederation of the Po
Remula
Great Chieftian Titus and Upsalian/King Gredai

River Po is a Culteral Sink due to trade. Latins from the south trade quarried Marble, Wine and Oil. Celti of the north trade Salt, Tin and Meat. Iberian of the West trade Copper and Greeks of the East trade with gold. The few cities that try to rise with the trade are usually crushed by various clans who want the wealth to themselves. However, Remus, who came from the south, united the Clans and built the City Remula. Within lived Celti, Po and Latin Clans. Remus and the Clans formed a system. The Clan Leaders of Citizens elect two Great Chieftians while the Desendent of Remus will be the Third Point as King. The three people will rule Rumula. As the Confederacy Expanded other cities and their mayors also elected. The Future looks bright for this fledging State.

City of Remula is but a House of Marble to the North on Remus Hill, as are other government and religious buildings. To the West is the Citigal of Remula, which is two walls of dirt and within a well, training militia and a small food store. To the East on Market Hill trade flourished as usually aided by the law of Remula. To the South is the Artisan Hill which Artisans work and live. A small Ridge known as Fisher's Row lived day workers and fishers. To all directions are farms and small towers. It is not great but the future is unknown for this growing city.


Possible Cities: Celti, Lanti, Thro, Veni, Genoi, Veii, Halsati, (proto names)
Possible Splinters: Confed/Kingdom/Chiefdom of Celti, Lanti, Thro.
Remus Empire. (In the future)

People: Chief Juniu, Mayor Hasbi. Remus. The Great Chieftians (names usually unrecorded in public documents). King Titahran the one who made the City State the Confederacy.

Concrats Andrew for Joining Nesing!

What you wrote was good. You can do whatever you want as long as you follow Civfanatic Rules and the NES rules. Be creative!

The Kushenri​

The group of people known as the Kushenri first near the Ganges River. Being a rather isolated culture, they had little need for powerful warriors or trained forces. And so the thrived in their isolation, gathering fruits and vegetables and occasionally eating meat. However, the Kushenri shunned violence and would hold small ceremonies for animals that they killed for food. But none the less, they killed enough to keep from going hungry and got enough nutrition.

For a time they prospered in their corner of paradise. But their peaceful lives were destroyed when a migrating Rigundo tribe stumbled unto their villages. While the Kushenri were far more numerous than the Rigundo, Kushenri people had no chance at defeating the vicious Rigundo warriors. Some old legends say that every Rigundo warrior was able to kill 100 Kushenri people.

With more and more Rigundo flocking into the area, the Kushenri people found themselves outnumbered and outgunned. They decided to flee, making a migration of their own to the one place they new the Rigundo wouldn't dare venture, the Yukulimpa Moutains [1]. Now diminished in number and living in harsh conditions, the remaining Kushenris tribes have started living in the isolated valleys and herding sheep. Occasionally a tribe will establish dominance, but the pacifist nature of the Kushenri often makes these claims of power useless. However, this gentel nature seems to be wearing off as the rough conditions harden the Kushenri.

[1] The Himalayans.

--------------------------------------------
Here's the starting location:



Notice how I dropped the "s" off of the end now. I'd like to use the spelling in my post, not on the map.


List:

Country Names:
-(City-State) Nipin
-(City-State) Sulumb
-(City-State) Kepenru
-(City-State) Truma
-(Larger Country) Hintash
-(Larger country) Sotash
-Fensush Empire (very unlikely that this will ever form)

People Names:-Cemvesa: A famous warlord of the Rigundo people. He is said to have been of immense height and strength. His last name is unknown to the Kushenri.

-Gohupshenta Fishinka: A great leader of the Kushenri people who lead them into the mountains. He stayed true to the pacifist ideals, although he himself died shortly after getting into the mountains. Legends say that an arrow shot by Cemvesa found its way to Gohupshenta while he rinally rested in the mountains. He was later thought to be the god of peace and happieness.

-Jinfa Fishinka: Gohupshenta's son and currently the most influencial leader in the area. He is considered pacifist, but has taken nessicary steps to protect his people in case of an invasion.

-Asulta Fishinka: The older brother of Gohupshenta, he taught a few men how to fight and condition themselves in the high elevations that they now lived in. He taught the art of self defense, but he never had to use it, for no one dared attack him. In the end he was taken by old age and buried in the snow of the icy peaks. He was later thought to be the god of justice and self defense, constantly protecting the Kushenri from heaven.

-Vinta Buyesa: A Rigundo traitor that held back his own forces in order to allow the Kushenri to escape. Some think that Gohupshenta met him and converted him to the Kushenri way of thinking. The Rigundo see him as a traitor and that he was bribed by the Kushenri to turn on his brothers.

-Hesha Aweyha: The supposed father of the Kushenri people. His size was so great that it is said that he couldn't move and became a mountain. Now he stands immovable and undaunted in the mountain ranges, constantly looking over the horizon for danger.

City Names:

-Nipin, capital settlement of the Kushenri. It's defended by many of Asulta's followers and is the largest city in the mountains. Many shepards and nomads dwell on the borders of the city.

-Sulumb is the main defense against the Rigundo in case of an invasion. Jinfa often goes there to oversee the building of fortifications and the training of troops. It has many caves carved around the area that allow for troops to launch sneak attacks and gives friendly troops shelter.

Dolensach
Name: Dolensach
Capital: Dolensach (it is a city-state)

Backstory:
(NOTE: I can give a Cliff Notes version of this stuff if neccessary)

The Mesopotanian civilisation began in about 4000 BC. From about 5000 BC, tribes from the East (known as the "First People" by 2000 BC because of their dominant political power- there was no other name for them, so it was kept even when their power waned) had been pushed by population pressures against the land at roughly the same time as an Arabian push.

Suprisingly, records show that descendants of both groups acknowledged the fact (although justifying their posession of the lands one way or another) that the "Northerners" were there first. Ocassionally, an idealistic and rash Northern leader would attempt (and fail) to retake the South, acting as a reminder.

The early chiefdoms/states tended to be ruled by Kings, who would usually spend their days making alliances to attempt to conquer other chiefdoms (and ocassionally states). A King who got too powerful would face a coalition and be knocked back into what the other kings considered acceptable.

By 3000 BC, writing was invented. A hegemon, Tatalasan, had emerged, controlling the largest empire the world had ever seen. In the south, the Arabian city state of Goltes tried to use it's fishing wealth to persuade the hegemon not to destroy them, while in the North a few tribes held out. One of it's greatest leaders was proclaimed a God.

The later fall of Tatalasan was well-recorded- two rival claimants to the throne emerged, one controlling the bulk of the empire. The other avoided battle, wearing down his opponent's army by attrition. Through this means he destroyed (counting his own losses) about 40% of the Tatalasan total forces, including when he was forced to battle and destroyed.

Goltes then rebelled, and another Northern attempt to reclaim the South (nominally- the real goal was to remove Tatalasan as a threat, it is speculated) began. Already marching south when he heard about the Northern invasion, the ruler of Tatalasan split his forces to do both. Defeating the Northerners, he lost about half his army fighting Goltes.

The unlucky King had insufficent soldiers to prevent rebellions. Within five years, barbarians (mostly but not all from the West) had overrun much of his empire, a sucessor to his rival for the throne had established a rump, and Goltes overran much of the Empire.

After the fall of Tatalasan, a new order emerged. Goltes was one of the premier powers, rivalled by the King's Compact (a confederation of city states), New Tatalasan (an empire of Westerners seen as illegitimate), and Simara (a Northern state which had regained only 40% of losses to Tatalasan but also had expanded in the north itself).

For hundreds of years no empire would rival Tatalasan. If any power got too strong, the others would unite against it. Even when this failed, Simara could make up losses in the North, New Tatalasan in the West, Goltes in the Goltes Sea, and the King's Compact by establishing Terrortories in the East.

By 1500 BC, this began to change. Jaltes ascended the Great Throne, becoming ruler of the Compact. By this time, while it was theoretically a Confederation, it was in practice a government by the Great King, with the other kings being at best autonomous. Restorationist forces still had not played their final hand, though...

Jaltes's strengths were his great generalship, being the heir of a miser king (giving him plenty of money to throw around), and the fact Simara had just experienced a severe defeat against New Tatalasan.

The major psycological influence on Jaltes was the forged Line of Tatalasan- a document which people speculate his father made to justify his posistion as head of a de facto kingdom (as opposed to a confederation). He believed for his formative period that he was the rightful heir, through his mother, of Tatalasan (though his mother persuaded him to wait rather then fight his father).

But when he was 17, this document was proved a forgery. Jaltes went through a period with symptoms resembling depression, before deciding on a rationalisation- Tatalasan had right of force to rule an empire, and so would he.

The Great Wars, as they were called, began. New Tatalasan was defeated in battle, and sieges were begun to take gains. Goltes was defeated with only half his army (they assaulted the city walls of his capital, believing they had the advantage of suprise), then Simara defeated with the whole of it.

Eventually, all of New Tatalasan fell, and both Simara and Goltes attempted the traditional practice of expanding elsewhere. Unwilling to allow it, Jaltes used a combination of espionage, securing treacheries, and force marches to take the capital and cripple Simara, securing the empire quicker then Goltes anticipated. Finally, he defeated Gotles by the age of 34.

This achievement was unparralled in history, and his enormous confidence (rooted in his character) of ultimate sucess made it seem all the greater. Proclaiming himself Tatalasan, Jaltes considered himself not only the most important man alive, but at least equal to the whole of the old empire's glories.

Every coin, every monument, every city in the Empire was named after him. He even tried to create a new language to glorify himself better. On top of all this, he proclaimed hmiself a God. People believed him mad.

The inevitable result was the last Great War. It's power base was "kings" (they had not the power of kings in practice) in the King's Compact, allied with rebels throughout the Empire. Tatlasan had enough support, when barbarian mercenaries were added to his armies, to destroy all rebels- but resentment remained.

Tatalasan's Empire did not last- resentment, particularly Northern, remained. But the city state of Dolensach would, a century later, claim to be the rightful heirs of the man, even restoring most of his regulations.

Dolensach was in the extreme west of the Tigris, and traditionally a vassal of the far greater power of the Viceroy (who claimed to be Viceroy of the claimant to Tatalasan's (the state) throne in Ysora, but was in practice an independent ruler roughly equal in real power). In 1005 BC, they were forced to renounce their claim to World's Empire.

But King Hoga, paradoxically a man of little ego, protested. As a man whose views towards Tatalasan were best summed up as hero worship, he would not cede the point. Tatalasan's Legacy, he proclaimed, could not be renounced- the god Tatalasan would never allow it. He would, he said, with Tatalasan's aid, complete his achievement and conquer the world...

Names: (Will do more later)
Jaltes/Tatalasan- A very egotistical conqueror. After conquering the three other Great Powers, he glorified his own achievements, even trying to make a new language to better glorify himself. He renamed himself Tatalasan because of this.
Tatalasan- As well as the name Jaltes gave himself, also a hegemon which temporarily ruled most of what was then Mesopotania (the largest empire in the world at it's time). Would later collapse due to civil war.

I've got the energy to write bucketloads, so I may as well...

EDIT: Moved a story here.

The Line of Zamotes
The truth about the Line of Zamotes is that they are descended from the commoners of Haldan, one of the city states of the King's Compact. Rising up through the court, their primary disadvantage was their lack of noble blood.

But myths would play the predominant role in the Line of Zamotes, so the mythology surrounding the Line is worth recounting.

According to their myths, they were the primary opposistion to Tatalasan. Leading the armies of the North in wars against them, they refused to give up even when there was no hope. Every heir to the Line would carry on the duty of harming Tatalasan, even if in small ways (one went around burning crops).

The Line traditionally opposed Empire, their myths said. No Empire had the right to exist- the lands were the North's by right. (The branch at Haldan were rouge defectors, and the last survivors of the line)

Arkra, of the line of Zamotes, was the primary advisor to one of the kings in the King's Compact- and a believer of the myth. He was determined to oppose Empire, and constantly petitioned the King to rebel. Eventually he suceeded, creating one of the rebellions against World's rule.

The result was failure, but Arkra survived (if missing an arm). He met up with Northern Rebel forces and fought King Tatalasan there there. At the siege of Genshes, he managed to wound Tatalasan himself despite the loss of an arm, before being killed by his foe's blade...

Names:
Line of Zamotes- A collective term for all descendants of Zamotes, a mythical figure commonly believed to have been real.
Haldan- One of the city states of the King's Compact.
Tatalasan- The second largest empire Mesopotania has ever seen, and Jaltes's primary inspiration.
North- The Northeners were the original (as far as is known) inhabitants of Mesopotania. They were pushed out about 1000 years before civilisation, but retained a third of Mesopotania in the north (later reduced by about 40%). They still consider the whole of it their own by right.
Arka- One of the believed heirs of the Line of Zamotes, and a believer of the myth.
Jaltes/Tatalasan- A man who established a second Tatalasan Empire, alrger then the first. He retead enormus resentment by proclaiming himself a God, renamed himself Tatalasan, and even tried to establish his own language to bette glorify himself. Despite this, he managed to hold onto his empire until his death.
Genshes- A border city, formerly contested between the King's Compact and New Tatalasan.

The Institution of the Kathren
The Kathren have existed for slightly over 250 years. This may not seem a long time in the history of Dalran, and it is indeed considered to their discredit that their traditions are so short. However, they already have entrenched habits of behaviour which they emphasise as tradition.

The first Kathren were a class of soldiers from the Yongfad, the primary early rival of Joltak (founder of Ysora and, due to a misjudgement, the Viceroyalty). They were merely a specialist soldier unit, with unusually high degrees of comradeship. However, after the battle at the egotistically named Joltak City, their leader was victorious but died in combat. Not having a cause, the soldiers went rouge.

The path of the Old Dolensach (OOC: Will elaborate on in a later story) of becoming a powerful Independent Chiefdom was open to them, but this would take centuries. Opting for more short-term gains, the Kathren (after a failed stint at becoming a powerful Sarpa chiefdom) took to the road of mercenaries.

Within a generation, Kathren became the name for a tactical doctrine as well as a force. This doctrine emphasised the power of the archer to it's full (if supported by infantry) to destroy anything in it's path. Only descendants of the original Kathren were allowed, at first, to be trained in their arts. They would also develop more techniques which were apparently superior in other forms of combat. (They were superior one-on-one, but not in combat) Users of these arts, valued as archers by Kings, were called Kathren.

But it was only a matter of time before these arts leaked. The Kathren were prominent warriors, and still superior at one-on-one combat. But one-on-one was almost never necessary in war, and

The eventual answer was the rise of the Tournament. A small portion of Kathren had become rich, and others had enough money to invest. Ranging from slight profits to large losses, these tournaments would give out prizes to the best warriors. A professional Kathren class would emerge.

However, this class was no longer a significant military force. Their arts, emphasising victory in mock combat (if through the brutal means of knocking a foe unconcious) in an arena, lost even their old usefulness in one-on-one combat. The age of the Kathren was technically still around, but their importance was over...

Tuheena​

The island of Tuheena was originally a site with little to no settlements, with only small Mumken tribes living on the northern side of the island as well as their native location in Dehanes. They mainly lived from fishing, which was not really sustaining a population growth at the time. Dehanes was invaded by Eterian ethnic groups who were surpressed by Tatalasan in Dalran.

This caused a series of cultural clashes - The Mumkene were next to extint in about a hundred years, with the massive population growth and the famine that came with it. Only the Eterians were able to feed themselves, as they had domesticated the ox, and when they adapted to the Mumkene fishing culture and began fishing as well, the much fewer numbers of Mumkene tribes fell to hunger. A few tribes did survive, who traded themselves to cattle, or stole it. Agriculture then developed fast on Dehanes itself, leading to general prosperity.

About a thousand years later, society had evolved into what we call civilization. Small Eterian and Mumkene chiefdoms dotted Dehanes, and the Mumkene peoples dominated the mountanious island of Tuheena, showing their success with three main chiefdoms on the island dominating several smaller ones. Drought now began plaguing the farmland, and many of the peoples in Western Dehanes as well as the peoples in Tuheena were now without food. These were the places of Mumkene superiority, and due to this, they wandered westwards, while the Tuheenans broke into decline and inwards stagnation.

About hundred years later, just when the Tuheenans were about to recover, they were invaded by a number of Eterian chiefs (This was also known as the 'Second Push'), which let to several clashes on the island. It resulted in Eterian domination of Tuheena and most of Dehanes while the Mumkene people only dominated small spots of Dehanes as well as provinces to the West, in Vainia.

Tuheena = Crete
Dehanes = Anatolia
Dalran = Mesopotamia
Vainia = Europe

Nations of Dehanes and Tuheena

Name: Peteni
Culture: Eterian
Location: Southeast Dehanes
Strength, military: Medium
Strength, economically: Weak (Fishing industry is growing)
Strength, politically: Very strong (Datavo is ruled by Peteni chiefs)

Name: Datvo
Culture: Eterian
Location: Southeast Dehanes
Strength, military: Very weak (They are not allowed to have a military due to Peteni laws)
Strength, economically: Medium (Agriculture is booming, fishing industry is declining)
Strength, politically: Very weak (Datavo is ruled by Peteni chiefs)

Name: Saskota
Culture: Eterian
Location: South Dehanes
Strength, military: Medium (Advanced archery tactics)
Strength, economically: Medium (Agriculture is growing, trade is growing)
Strength, politically: Weak (Slight influence on Datvo through trade)

Name: Petoka
Culture: Eterian
Location: Central Dehanes
Strength, military: Weak
Strength, economically: Weak (Agriculture is declining)
Strength, politically: Weak

Name: Peletvo
Culture: Eterian
Location: North Dehanes
Strength, military: Weak
Strength, economically: Weak (Agriculture is growing, fishing industry is growing)
Strength, politically: Very strong (Malebu, Utui, Mutesk ruled by Peletvo chiefs)

Name: Tuheena // lord_joakim
Culture: Eterian
Location: Tuheena
Strength, military: Strong (Advanced archery tactics, strong navy)
Strength, economically: Weak (Agriculture is growing, fishing industry is growing, trade is growing)
Strength, politically: Medium (Heavy influence on Datvo through trade)

Name: Malebu
Culture: Mumkene
Location: Southwest Dehanes
Strength, military: Very weak (Practically no army)
Strength, economically: Very weak (Agriculture is declining)
Strength, politically: Very weak (Malebu is ruled by Peletvo chiefs)

Name: Utui
Culture: Mumkene
Location: West Dehanes
Strength, military: Very weak (They are not allowed to have a military due to Peletvo laws)
Strength, economically: Very weak (Fishing industry is declining)
Strength, politically: Very weak (Utui is ruled by Peletvo chiefs)

Name: Mutesk
Culture: Mumkene
Location: West Dehanes
Strength, military: Very weak (They are not allowed to have a military due to Peletvo laws)
Strength, economically: Very weak (Agriculture is badly declining)
Strength, politically: Very weak (Mutesk ruled by Peletvo chiefs)

Nation: Lokitlan
Capital: Texcocacola
Ruler: Chief Lokismok

Located on Lake Texcoco in Mexico. The Lokitlan have been a dominant Tribe in Mexico for many years. They began their rise to power with the establishment of a stable food supply (farming). The staple food includes corn, and corn based products. Now the nation consists of a few villages, but there is no sign of a stoppage of expansion. Ruled by a chief with absolute power, Lokitlan is a strong force in Central America.

CITIES:
Capital: Texacocacola is the capital of the Lokitlan Chiefdom. It is built on an island in Lake Texcoco. Large bridges connect it to the mainland, but if they fail, residents are good swimmers.

Others:
Tlexica is one of many small settlements in Lokitlan lands. Others include Mahji, Gontlan, and Tlaxcalana.

IMPORTANT PEOPLE:
Chief Lokismok is the current ruler of Lokitlan. He has become ruler only recently, but many hope that he will be as good a ruler as his predecessors.
Chief Baka is ther father of Chief Lokismok, great ruler who expanded Lokismok territory. Died very recently.
Chiefs Morko and Gorka are descended from Chief Dakka. They are the only chiefs who ruled at the same time. They began the Lokitlanian war practice of painting their bodies green to blend in with trees.
Chief Dakka is the legendary chief of Lokitlan. It is debated whether or not he actually existed. He was the first ruler of Lokitlan and, as lengend has it, he was appointed Chief by the Chief One himself.
The Chief One is the god of Lokitlan. They say that he walked the earth and created all the peoples. The Lokitlan were his favored people and he gave them gifts. When the others rose up against the Lokitlan, he smote them down. The Chief One is said to have had green skin and red eyes. When the Lokitlan had become a tribe he disappeared, but the Lokitlan maintain that he will be back, and fight ferociously to grow larger and rule te world upon his return.

OTHER NATIONS:
Bakatlax- smaller
Ralacluz -smaller
Midland - larger than Loktlan, but not adjacent to it.
Terria - Lokitlan sized
Gortlax -smaller
Tlaxclaz -Lokitlan sized

Name: Cezolum
Capital: Cortonum
Ruler: Despot Orim

The Cezolum people originally came from east of the island known as Ireland. However, other expanding Celtic groups would push them into the British Isles. Interestingly, it was in the westernmost part that a civilization would develop about 1200 BCE. This nation, called Cezolum, would face a major rebellion around 1100 BCE and an invasion around 1090 BCE by a neighboring tribe (Domm) ; this led to an overthrow of power by Orum, who greatly expanded Cezolum. Orum's grandson, Orim, rules today and seeks to further greaten Cezolum...

Domm:
Capital- Dorm
Om
Sorokm

Currently a tributary state to Cezolum

Cezolum: squid1111
Capital- Cortonum
Burtunum
Cezonum
Omconum
Kegeresonum

The main power in western Ireland.

Talasia:
Capital- Otalas
Garas
Palfia

Towards the North of Ireland. Growing more powerful.

Saloric:
Capital- Torough

A rival of Talasia, Saloric was the oldest of the North Irish kingdoms. It slowly conglomerated into a single city-state.

Mythology

The world was created by Donm, who died in its creation. His body transformed into water, and after a thousand years he fell onto the world, causing a great flood. The Cess, living in Ireland at the time, and the other people were wiped out. After a while, the water settled down and became the oceans. After that, the Fmorrt and Opa peoples lived in Scotland but both died out. The Nemdorg invaded, but were destroyed by the Fiolg later on. The Fiolg were the victim of a new flood made by the giant octopus under the sea. Thinking a new Great Flood was coming, they sailed out in boats and were never seen again. The Tatada people came next, and still live there today, but have gone through several pantheons of gods.
The first pantheon was the Donm Pantheon. This pantheon disappeared a long time ago. Two more pantheons existed. The fourth pantheon, the Pomphori pantheon, had numerous worshippers about 2000 BCE. Around 1700 BCE, a group of people claimed that the Pomphori were dead, replaced with the Ualug pantheon. This pantheon was led by Ua and Lug, the two main gods. Subservient are:
Chaada, the god of hard work;
Turian, the god of the weather;
G'Pa, the god of battle;
Abb, the goddess of speech and war;
Ulasa, the goddess of death;
Alalusm, the god of knowledge.

Satisfactory so far, save for misspellings and typos by both me and some of you guys. I almost forgot to ask: give short lists (3-7 each) of settlement and people names from the cultures and societies you name in your posts.

For those who already posted and joined, please just edit your posts for the lists for my convenience; you may, however, post again if you wish to flesh out your societies and/or their surrounding peoples (this will be extremely helpful). Also, spread the word of this NES: more players means more world-fleshing-out.

Thanks.

I haven't finished the lists yet, but I'll do it later, I promise...

Chiefdoms of Dalran
Dalran is not consistent only of states- there are also chiefdoms on the periphery between states. Their theoretical status is self-contradictory- they have the title of King, call themselves soverign, and yet bow before the ruler of some state and swear an oath of loyalty.

But the practical reality is certain- they usually have no choice but to ally with a city-state for their own protection, but they own the countryside. They can freely defect and get away with it- this is a potential danger, as they control the food supply. (Though it normally takes most of them defecting to create a serious threat)

The countryside is overwhelmingly chiefdoms, but some states try to destroy their reliance on them by creating Governories- ruled by a Governor, they give a state a modicum of security. However, this usually means a short term loss of power as chiefdoms rebel against them.

With chiefdoms, the balance is usually clear- they pay a tribute of food to the State of which they are a vassal, or alternately a tribute of gold (if they are rich). This makes them weak and the state strong (as it has a larger population), but is the accepted order of things. Chiefdoms discontent with this arrangement aspire to use defections and diplomacy to become an Independent Chiefdom, free from tribute. This status is very hard to defend, as states see Independent Chiefdoms as easy conquests.

Names:
Dalran- The local name for Mesopotania.
Governory- Any terrortory controlled by a city state outside the City Bounds. These are ruled by a Governor appointed directly from the city.
Independent Chiefdom- Any chiefdom genuinely independent in a political sense from neighbouring states.

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Since flyingchicken wants development, I'll deliver...

The Current Geopolitical World
There are three major states. Two of them are roughly equal to each other, while the third, Danion, is a potential hegemon. Prior to the Dolensach Rebellion, the Viceroyalty-Ysora alliance sought war with Danion to prevent them becoming hegemon.

The Viceroyalty was established when Joltak, founder of Ysora, went south, appointing a Viceroy to control his northern terrortories. The first Viceroy was loyal, but his sucessor demanded a series of concessions in exchange for aid which made him de facto independent.

After creating the Viceoryalty, Joltak went south and attacked New Goltes. Defeating them in a series of battles, he almost took Gotles. Neither side wanted to take the risk of a descisive battle (the Najuran Empire threatened to restore Tatalasan), so they ended up making a deal- New Goltes would retain it's terrortories, with Joltak as King. The empire was later renamed Ysora (.

The Three Coalition Wars led to the creation of Danion. In the first, the Najuran Empire threatened hegemony, but was defeated. The death of the king of Ysora barely prevented the campaign which would have finished it off. In the second, barbarians and rump states from the remains of the Najuran Empire held off Ysora forces (barely) until the campaign was halted due to a (false) belief the Viceroy was rebelling. In the third, Ysora tried to become hegemon again, but a rebellion by the Viceroyalty prevented it.

Danion was created from the former Hodren tribe, which was awarded a city for loyalty to Najuran but betrayed them as the Empire crumbled. The Hodren created the Danion Leauge to lend a death knell to the Empire, then were the second strongest force in the Nadjan Coalition against Ysora domination. In time, they would betray Najuran and exploit the vacilliating (if between neutrality and helping Ysora) Viceroyalty to become the strongest state in the world.

The Dolensach rebellion is seen as a speedbump on the highway to a Viceroyalty/Ysora-Danion war that will decide the fate of Mesopotania. The best they believe the rebels can do is give Danion a short term advantage before it's crushing. Perhaps they are right...

Names:
Dolensach- The state I am playing. It was a vassal of the Viceroyalty, until it rebelled against their demand to renounce their claim on the Tatalasan throne.
Viceroyalty- Theoretically a vassal of Ysora, in practice it is an independent state that is roughly equal in world affairs (slightly stronger then Ysora but subordinate in theory). It's strength is the power of it's chariot charges.
Viceroy- Ruler of the Viceroyalty.
Ysora- One of two claimants to the throne of Tatalasan, and the sucessor state of the sucessor state of Goltes. Controlling the southeast, it emphasises defence and manuvreability through a superior navy. At one point it almost conquered the world,
Joltak- Founder of Ysora, and creator of an autonomus viceroyalty in the north (later the independent Viceroyalty).
Hodren- A chiefdom, which later expanded to create Danion.
Danion- A power which controls most of the Euphrates, but has no lands on the Tigris. Due to it's superior military discipline combined with numbers, it is nearly hegemon. Was once the Danion Leauge, a leauge of chiefdoms.
Najuran- A state compromised of the nobility of the King's Compact, which at one point almost became hegemon before defeat in a series of battles.
Nadjan- A once-significant state, created from the anti-federalists of the King's Compact. It led the Nadjan Coalition, also known as the Second Coalition.

Northern Culture
Northern culture is unique for the strength of it's traditions, founded in a belief that they are a superior people. Monetheists, they believe in one God who gave them Dalran as the best land in the world because they were the best people. Corrupted by a half-pint of foriegn blood, then making errors of judgement through their own fault, they lost two-thirds of Dalran, but will one day reclaim it.

The stories are different depending on where in the North they are told, but they have common features- a belief the land was once theirs, a compromise between the theories that foriegn blood corrupted them and that their own moral errors corrupted them, belief in one God (with Servants that are usually clear copies of other gods), a belief that Dalran is still rightfully theirs, and that they will reclaim it before the end of the world. In other matters they different- is their God, Alsen, good or evil, does he have Servants or even Companions, does he favor the North or not, and so on. In practically every other detail, in fact, they differ.

Names:
Alsen- The God of the Northern people.
Dalran- The local name for Mesopotania.
Servant/Companion Distinction- Servants are considerd to be just that- servants of Alsen. Companions is a tactful way of claiming there are other Gods.

At some point will we reach stats status, and have economys to spend etc?

Abaddon, yeah. This is currently the Boring Times phase, where everything is in low temporal resolution as we build up this little fantasy world (in the basic sense) of ours. I'm planning to start doing Interesting Times by around OTL AD 600 (with BTs segues into later periods).

Nation Name: Cueta
Player/Ruler: Abaddon / Abram Sieed
Government: Monarchy
Religion: Paganism

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Start me on the African side of the mouth to the Med. A nation bourne out of trading across the expanse of sea, and fed on fish.

i'll actually bother to read the thread

Abaddon said:

Oh fine, scrap that.. i'll actually bother to read the thread

Click to expand...

That's sad that someone would post in a thread and not even read it.

Also, the list will be up shortly.

Nation name: Chiefdom of Neapolis
Ruler: The Great Chief of Neapolis
Area: Where OTL's Naples is.
Naples is the most complex and potentially the most powerful chiefdom among Taurus people in central and south Tauria (OTL's Italy)
The Taurusians are an autocton culture that at first hinabited the Eriato (OTL's Po) valley. When Hindo-Europeans people arrived, invadin Taurusian area, they escaped, stopping only at the Metauri Plain (OTL's Basilicata).
From there, Taurusian culture spread in Central and Southern Tauria, with "colonies" in Etnia (OTL's Sicily) and Pecra (OTL's Sardinia). At north, the border of the Taurusian cultural area is the Arteo (OTL's Tiber). Most of Taurusian people are divided in small tribes and villages, but there are some bigger chiefdoms: The Metauripolis Chiefdom, in the are of the first Taurusian settelemen in Metauri, the biggest and oldest, but decadent and weak, both militarly and economically. Another is the Cosentian Chiefdom (in OTL's Cosenza area), a medium powerm militarly and economically, with a relatively young history.
In central Tauria (OTL's Northern part of Souther Italy), there is the Utrian Chiefdom, based on the city of Utria, a relatively powerful chiefdom but with a corrupt governement and plagued with a series of inept chief.
Finally, there is the Neapolits Chiefdom, the youngest of the four chiefdom, founded by Utrian exiles. Is the smallest, but the most Economically powerful thanks to its position on the Neapolitan Sea (OTL's Thyrrenian Sea), and also is relatvely militarly powerful.
Other Taurusian people are organized in tribes and Villages not as big or complex as the four Chiefdoms.
The Taurusian follow a Polytheistic faith, with each deities corresponding to a natural element, but some Henoteistic faiths are spreading, particularly in Neapolis, where the God of Fire and Sun, Hetreo, is increasingly belived to be the most important god among other gods.

Ninja Dude said:

That's sad that someone would post in a thread and not even read it.

Also, the list will be up shortly.

Click to expand...

Meh, its a fresh start.. ive lived through so many of these i can't bring myself to put the initial effort in. Once I can see its going somewhere I will get more involved.

Note that I wrote a background for my Cretish Tuheenan nation