A Show of Fear in a Handful of Dust

[Shadowbound]

OOC: Apologies, I continued to make edits to Kentuckee today. Appalachee would also be a better name.

 

[Sonereal]

OOC: Apologies, I continued to make edits to Kentuckee today. Appalachee would also be a better name.

Last edited by Shadowbound; Aug 26, 2015 at 01:37 PM.

Yeah, I still don't know how I missed the vassal stuff though. No problem, you still got about 300k to work with and it'll all clear up for the next update.

 

[Nuka-sama]

Sone I just meant for us to claim the lands touching California but across the Colorado. It seems the map does not show these claims though?

 

[Sonereal]

Maps fixed. Stats reopened. Self flogged.

 

[christos200]

- Liu Chang​

It was late in the night. Liu Chang was in his military tent. The campaign, if it could be called that due to the lack of resistance and military operations, was a huge success and the Empire expanded it's borders. But Liu Chang was somewhat unhappy and depressed. He had actually wished that some battle would have taken place, not so much because he liked war (in fact he disliked it, unlike his brother Zhang Wuji who liked battles) but because he could prove in that way himself to the Empress.

As he was thinking about what he would do, suddenly three men charged into the tent with swords in their hands. They were dressed with a black cloak and wore a red mask which hid their faces. Liu Chang at once drew his two long swords and proceeded to battle his enemies using the 'Red Tiger Swordsmanship'.

One of the assassins charged forward, sword raised, and aimed at chopping Liu Chang's thigh, but Liu Chang jumped and dodged the blow. The assassin attacked again and Liu Chang leaped backwards. He then somersaulted and thrust his weapon at the assassin's shoulder. The thrust was too fast to be avoided and the sword penetrated the assassin's shoulder. Blood poured from the wound.

Meanwhile, another assassin pointed his sword at Liu Chang and thrust it towards him. As the sword sped forward, a loud sound was heard, revealing the strength behind the thrust. Liu Chang did not even move his feet. His sword flickered and stabbed the assassin's chest.

At the same time, the third assassin also somersaulted and attacked Liu Chang, who flinched, but his right shoulder was struck and one of his two swords fell on the ground. Liu Chang leaped backwards and went into the defensive. The assassin attacked again and the two blades clashed with a great 'clang'. Their swords clashed a few more times before Liu Chang used his grappling technique, called ' Wishful Hand'. When the assassin charged with his sword against him, Liu Chang made no move until the sword was only one inch from his face, then stretched out his hand and grabbed it by the hilt.

Unarmed and with a sword only an inch away from his throat, the assassin fell on his knees and shouted: "Please, spare me!!"

"Who sent you here?", Liu Chang asked.

Instead of replying, the assassin drew a knife and slashed his throat, committing suicide. The other two injured assassins followed his example and, before Liu Chang could question them, they killed themselves.

'Weird', Liu Chang thought. 'Who could they be and who sent them here?"

At that time, Guan Ying and Zhang Wuji rushed into the tent.

"Brother!", Zhang Wuji shouted, "are you ok?"

"We were having a walk because we could not sleep and we overheard someone who was obviously drunk saying to a friend that he was paid by Lang Ming to hire assassins to kill you!", Guan Ying said. "So, we immediately rushed here."

"I am alright", Liu Chang replied.

"I will get this damn arrogant Ming and kill him!!", Zhang Wuji shouted but Liu Chang grabbed him by the shoulder and stopped him.

"Brother, do not do this", Liu Chang said. "Lang Ming comes from a powerful aristocratic family with much influence in the Imperial Court. If we kill him, we shall be doomed."

"Should we present the evidence to the court?", Guan Ying asked.

"No", Liu Chang replied. "They will not believe us as the assassins are dead and the man you overheard will deny his involvement in this assassination attempt. Also, the Lang family will surely protect it's son and we shall be the ones convicted instead of him. So, for now at least, we should pretend that nothing has happened and we should not challenge Lang Ming."

 

[NinjaCow64]

To: High King Samuel Redge of the High Kingdom of Ravenwal

We implore you to end this war. How many more of your sons must die pointless deaths at our walls?

At the very least let us have a ceasefire for one Moon so we can safely ransom our prisoners. The ransom is 1 gold per prisoner ($12,810 total).

 

[Nuka-sama]

Say’ri sat quietly, kneeling on the floor, hoping not to attract any attention. As the youngest lieutenant ever in the legendary Crimson Dragoons, she had been the center of the entire unit’s attention. She did not know what was worse, the vicious rumors or the desperate sycophants. Luckily though, in this meeting, all eyes were on the General Li. Crimson armor, inlaid with gold, her jet black hair contrasting with her ivory skin, and wielding a massive katana blade, the legendary Dreamkiller. General Li commanded the full room’s attention any time she entered it. No matter how Say’ri felt about the position that the general had put her in, she could at the least feel grateful for this moment. General Li motioned with her pointer to a map of the “Arizona” as the barbarians called it “The savages have camps here, here, and here. Our scouts have indicated they are lightly armed, and seem to posses little more than knives and clubs. I intend to close these two passages, and then they will be caught between my troops and General Shang. Then either death or slavery will await them.”

The other officers nodded, and the lone magistrate chuckled “Excellent strategy, Madam. I’m sure those tribals will love the surprise. And the Empire will be pleased with an influx of labor”

General Li turned to Say’ri “My adjutant is back across the wall, gathering horses for new cavalry units. You will stay here and train the new recruits. When my adjutant returns and believes you're ready, you will join us…” and at that, General Li unsheathed her blade. The legendary Dreamkiller seemed to shine brighter than the sun. General Li admired it with a knowing smile, and then sheathed it before handing it to Say’ri “...Captain”

A murmur circled through the tent, with the other officers whispering quietly between themselves. Say’ri was in shock, her own pale skin turning redder than the rocks here. She had not expected this, and her hands felt like shaking. She felt knots being tied in her stomach “Captain?”

The magistrate seemed more flustered than her though “Oh, General Li, this is an enormous responsibility though! The lieutenant is only seventeen, and has yet to see battle, nor has she memorized even a single manual!” General Li raised an eyebrow, and another officer attempted a more diplomatic approach “Madam, perhaps a soldier with more experience--”

General Li held up her hand “Number one in his class, extensive knowledge of training techniques” she sipped her tea and then leaned back smugly “an impressive
military lineage... I believe Li Say’ri will do an excellent job.” and again extended the sword to Say’ri

Say’ri, her hands shaking, as she grabbed the blade “Thi-this is...I..well”

General Li smiled “Dragoons, prepare for our departure. Gather your things, and be ready to leave in a quarter click. Magistrate, please take stock of our current supplies, I intent to leave tonight and I want everything in order before I depart. Now.”

The officers gave a salute, and left the tent murmuring among themselves, while the magistrate bowed and gave Say’ri a disgusted sneer

Say’ri frowned as he left “He does not seem to like me. In fact, none of them seemed to like me”

General Li chuckled “Eunuchs hate anyone who wields a sword. Reminds them of what they lost, both powerwise and…” and then gave a knowing wink

Say’ri winced “Mother!”

General Li laughed once more, and Say’ri sighed “Mother, I wish you had asked me first. I wanted to fight by your side! And the other officers! They’re going to keep spreading rumors about how I only get these commissions because I’m your daughter!”

General Li shook her head “Worry not of the other officers. They are the Crimson Dragoons. They shall do their duty. And I know that you wish to fight by my side. I wish for it as well, daughter. But already I have seen your passion and energy. I believe you may eclipse even your elder sisters.”

“Is that why you gave me Dreamkiller?”

General Li smiled “Indeed”


“But...how? I have never bested Jin once, and Rie has memorized every one of those damnable manuals before she was twelve!”

“True. But your sisters….they do not have the passion, the love for the blade that you have. Both of them would rather be at home than on campaign. They see it as an obligation. But you? You not only see it as a duty, but as a privilege. Your love of the blade will allow you to surpass those who see it as a chore. And when one day you are a general, you will realize that it is only the strong who can lead. The other generals may speak of their manuals and their strategies, but let us never forget that the Great Mother Dragon conquered this world by strength of sword and spirit, not of mind.”

Say’ri looked down at the blade, and her mother gently tilted Say’ri’s head upward “Daughter, I know you wished to fight by my side. And I wish for that more than anything in this world. And you will get that chance. Soon. I promise you, this is for the best.

“Very well mother. I swear to you, I will not let you down”

General Li rose and began to walk out of the tent “Very good then. These soldiers need to learn discipline, and you will give it to them. Focus on fighting in formation, and note those that particularly stand out, perhaps they can be cavalry soldiers. I will not have undisciplned fighters threatening our mission. Your father will be arriving in three weeks, and will give you new orders on where to meet me. We'll toast the victory of the Empress in a few months back at the Imperial City!”


Mother and daughter emerged from the tent, and General Li climbed atop her splendid white charger. Say’ri handed her the helmet, an ornate piece giving the look of a dragon’s head “Good luck mother” whispered Say’ri

Her mother smiled “And good luck to you!” And as she rode off with her cavalry, Say’ri sighed. She had wished to join them so! But her mother and the Empress had given her this opportunity. And if this was how she was meant to serve, she would. She would prove she was worthy of this honor. And she would not let them, nor her soldiers, down….

-----

OOC: Christos, you are in the army training under Captain Li Say'ri

 

[christos200]

"What?!", Zhang Wuji shouted. "A seventeen years old will boss us around because her mother is the General?"

Liu Chang laughed. "My friend", he said, "I do not think that we should judge her negatively due to her age or family background. It is here where she shall prove herself. Age and family do not matter. Anyway, the Empress is even younger than her. So, if Her Imperial Majesty can be Empress when she is only fifteen years old, why can't Miss Li Say'ri be Captain when she is seventeen years old?"

Zhang Wuji sighed. "I knew you would take her side", he complained. "You are always being the 'Ideal Gentleman'."

Guan Ying and Liu Chang laughed.

Liu Chang grabbed a jar of wine and threw it at Zhang Wuji, who immediately grabbed it.

"I just bought it for you", Liu Chang said, smiling.

"Thanks Brother!", Zhang Wuji replied and proceeded to drink the wine.

Liu Chang then turned to Guan Ying and said, "We should do our best in the training so that our skills can be recognized."

"Indeed", Guan Ying replied. "We must not be impulsive and we should follow orders."

Although Guan Ying was replying to Liu Chang, his eyes were set on Zhang Wuji, who understood what his sworn brother was meaning and said, "Alright, alright. I will not be hotheaded and impulsive!"

"We must do our best", Liu Chang continued. "As a simple officer, I will not be able to restore Jiajou to it's days of glory nor will I be able to help the Empress get rid of the wicked officials and eunuchs. So, if I want to help the people prosper and to see the wicked punished, I must make sure that I will be promoted. And in order to be promoted, I must show my skills. I must not fail my family. I just hope that I will be able to do better than my great-great-grandfather."

"You have not told us about your great-great-grandfather", Zhang Wuji said.

"My great-great-grandfather was head of my clan one hundred years ago. At that time, my clan was one of the most powerful, rich and noble in the Empire. My great-great-grandfather was in his thirties when bad events began, and thankfully he already had a wife and a son, my great-grandfather. Liu Jiang, my great-great-grandfather's name, was a great warrior and general, but his wealth and success caused the envy of other officials. A traitorous official accused to the Empress my great-great-grandfather Liu Jiang of planning a revolt. My great-great-grandfather was convicted of treason, but due to his services to the Empress he was not put to death. Instead, he was castrated and exiled. The entire wealth of our family was confiscated. After about four decades of shame, my grandfather managed to prove Liu Jiang's innocence, but by that time our family wealth and prestige was all but gone. My grandfather secured a minor position in his local province and after he died, five decades ago, none of my family had any official positions until now. So, I must not fail in my task: to serve the Empress and get rid of wicked officials, like those who caused the death of Liu Jiang."

"I see", Guan Ying said, sighing.

Liu Chang smiled. "Let us go train now!"

 

[Sonereal]

Major Events of the Week​

These are weekly major events. New players don't receive events the first turn they're active because no point in throwing more curveballs out the gate. Only some players get major events, but they usually affect their neighbors as well.

GM Corrections:

A few countries have crazy trade balances. What happened is that last turn, there were events with diminishing effects. Some countries with +.1 or -.1 economic efficiency had this turn's efficiency set to +/- .9 instead of .09. No player was affected directly.

Grand Republic of Illinois

Oswald Baker is the new Grand Chancellor of Illinois, and one of the most pressing issues facing him now is the growing Reich and Nuuw-Hollant to the north, the aggressive Agalin to the east, and Kentuckee to the south. Until recently, Illinois hasn't found itself in a vulnerable position wedged between several potentially power friends...or enemies.

The Illinois Senate is debating what sort of position Illinois should take in these coming years. Who should it reach out to? Who shouldn't it reach out to? The sides in the argument ultimately boil down to the Isolationists, who believe the country should stay behind her current borders and be prepared to defend herself, the Internationalists who want to create alliances and expand trade with neighbors, and Radical Republicans who wish to spread Abraham and republican beliefs and ideology to neighbors. Most people hover between these three extremes.

Oswald Baker can choose now which side he is on, or if he is even on the side of the debate. Choosing the Isolationists would halve the country's Trade Power and Expansion Power, and weaken the affect of spending Trade Power on other countries. Choosing the Internationalists will increase Trade and Expansion Power by 50%. Choosing the Radical Republicans, however, will fill boost the Republican Tradition of the country (currently 91) and give a military boost for at least a decade.

Das Großoccitanien Bundesreich

Money is flowing to the new duchies.

As the Bundesreich expands, it brings increasingly diverse populations under its umbrella. In many regions it has expanded into so far, infrastructure is poor. New vassals in these regions means new infrastructure spending, and more trade opportunities for all involved.

Despite the growing income from vassal taxes, the Bundesreich continues to desperately flail around when it comes to collecting its own taxes. Nearly 50% of taxes are loss due to inefficiencies in the Bundesreich tax collection apparatus. In all categories except Learning, the Bundesreich is remarkably deficit. Its merchants are some of the laziest in North America, its officer corp an afterthought, its stewardship dismal, and its own spies getting caught by its other spies.

And so, it should come as no surprise that feudal obligations are becoming more fluid in the region. Ostland has halved the amount of taxes it will pay to the emperor, and other vassals have followed suit by lowering their own tax payments by 25%. Furthermore, many of these vassals have already started slashing their own internal taxes, furthering lowering vassal tax revenues for the state.

Koninryk Nuuw-Hollant

...from the journal of a Windspear trade ship captain.

-fog was thick around us, but we've sailed these waters enough to know that we were going the right direction. It was a quiet night, and gave no sign that it would soon rain, but we started to hear thunder and see lightning. Once, twice, three times in rapid succession! My second called to me and pointed to land north of us on the horizon where lights strobe brilliantly, piercing the fog. My stomach rolled with each thunderclap...

 

[Gurra09]

I have been following this game a little and if you'll have me I'd love to join.

Character name: Saint Jared Tooele
Age: 33

Diplomacy: 10
Martial: 3
Stewardship: 4
Intrigue: 9
Learning: 7

Government Type: Republic
Noble Republic: No
Republican Dictatorship: No
Term Limits: 4 (see Government paragraph for detail)
Parliament: Yes

Country Name: Free Deseret Republic of Provo

Spoiler Oh no, you didn't! :

History:

After the event known in Provo history as The Great Catastrophe most of the Pacific Northwest was left in ruins, wastelands that couldn't be used. The settlements around the Great Salt Lake and Lake Utah became the last outpost in the northwest and the people rallied around their common faith, proclaiming that this was their promised land as it had been spared by God. The city of Provo became a religious, and later administrative, centre as it was home to many believers.

Provo has for a very long time been out of contact with the surrounding world owing to its distant location and bare lands, but in recent days traders and diplomats from Provo have reached out to establish contact with nearby countries.

Government: Deseret Republic

Provo is lead by a Governor-General as its head of state and head of government who is elected every six months by the Deseret Council, Provo's parliament, which consists of one priestly and one secular representative from each county in the republic. A Governor-General can hold his office for two years maximum and when once removed from office he can't be re-elected. Most Governor-Generals are re-elected until they have had a full two-year term.

Current Governor-General Saint Jared was born in Tooele County and is a man of strong belief. He became a missionary, a neo-mormon priest, at 16 and sat in the Deseret Council as a priestly representative of his home county for ten years prior to being elected Governor-General.

Religion: Neo-mormonism

Neo-mormonism is what became of the religious teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the last centuries. In practice, it is not much different from the mormonism of old but rather a further development of the faith into this new age. Neo-mormonism has reinstituted ancient traditions such as plural marriage, but the hardships of life in the vicinity of the northwestern wastelands have also made some former mormon practices obsolete, such as the health codes prescribed in the Word of Wisdom calling for believers to observe certain rules in regards to consumption of food and other substances.

Believers see the Free Deseret Republic as a kingdom of God on Earth, with Jesus Christ as supreme ruler and the republican government merely as his servants, and the idea of Provo being their promised land is a central doctrine in neo-mormonism. Neo-mormon priests are known as missionaries, which has nothing to do with actual spreading of the faith as the religion is very local to Provo.

Provo owes its peculiar naming traditions to the practices of neo-mormonism aswell. All neo-mormons receive the honorary name 'Saint' when they reach 16 years of age, and there are no officially recognised house names as all the people of Provo are considered to be of one and the same family. Rather than house names, Provoans use the name of their home town or county.

 

[Sonereal]

Spoiler :

Welcome aboard though. You'll be added in for the next update.

 

[Nuka-sama]

The Provost Sergeant shouted, his voice hoarse from years of shouting commands “LINE UP YOU INSIGNIFICANT FLEAS! AT ATTENTION FOR THE CAPTAIN!”

Li Say’ri scanned the troops, her face curling into a frown. Many of the soldiers here were in fact high born of some nature. When Her Majesty gave out the recruitment call, it attracted applicants across social lines, but Say’ri was shocked to discover that the lowborn made shockingly better soldiers than the high born. While the highborn had far better equipment and combat training, they were terrible at keeping formation, marching, or maneuvers. In the first battle they attempted, almost the entire front formation broke ranks to take on an opponent one on one, fighting on the level of the barbarians. Say’ri felt her hand twitch at her side, but sighed as she patted her bare belt. At Imperial Training Camps for infantry, the whip was a captain’s best friend. Simply a crack in the air could inspire infantry to keep formation and continue on, and in the early days, liberal use of the whip for punishment could keep a soldier from breaking rank in battle. And these soldiers needed the whip more than any. But with so many high borns, using that whip might cause a mutiny, if not a civil war. No….a more….subtle method would be needed.

Looking at their faces though, Say’ri had a bigger problem. From the frowns on their faces, they clearly were discontent upon being under the command of a young girl, some of whom were more than twice her age. Some men were aghast that the commander was a girl at all. Though the Imperial Army was for the most part equal between men and women for opportunity for promotion, Say’ri had heard that in some parts of the empire, men were considered the leaders, and women were only responsible for child rearing. The only female these families respected was the Empress due to her divine nature, and even then felt that the more the Empress left men to their own affairs, the better. And these highborns were not those with generations of service to the Imperial Army. They had their own leevies at home to call upon. and were it not for the Empress and her call for a new conquest, none of them would likely have entertained the motion of joining. They would not know of the exploits of the Li family, and their prestige. Even now, they were talking among themselves, laughing, ignoring the Provost. She would lose them if she did not act now…

She walked to the loudest, most boisterous man she could find “What is your name, soldier?”

The man gave a cocky smile “I am Lang Ming. Surely they’ve heard of me in the ‘mighty’ Crimson Dragoons” he said, laughing with his friends.

Say’ri did not flinch “No. I haven’t” Ming’s smile twisted into a snarl but Say’ri continued “And you will address me as Captain, and you will bow before you speak. That is how the Imperial Army operates.”

At that, Ming sneered “Bow? To you? If anything, you should be bowing to me!”

“Oh? Is that so? You believe you are better suited to be captain then?”

“I deserve it more than a girl still suckling at her mother’s teat”

Say’ri wanted to hit him at that but she exhaled. “Very well. You can be the new Captain. But on one condition” she stepped back in full view of her soldiers and rummaged through her pocket, pulling out a golden coin “Simply take this from my hand, and you’ll become the new captain. But, if you cannot….” she twisted her face into a smile “Normally I would make you my chamber boy, but I don’t think you’ve earned that privilege. Fail to take the coin in three attempts, and you’re on camp latrine duty for a month”

Ming laughed, and many of the soldiers did the same. He stepped forward, riling up the crowd as he stood face to face with Say’ri. At least a foot taller, and many pounds heavier, he leaned in as he said “I accept your conditions”

Say’ri smiled “One more thing, Lang Ming.” and at that she pulled out a blindfold

Ming sneered “What kind of last minute trick is this. You said nothing about a blindfold!”

Say’ri continued to smile “Lang Ming, on the battlefield you must be prepared for anything, including something you cannot see. However, rest assured” she said as she began tying the blindfold to her head “The blindfold is for me, and me alone. Provost, when you’re ready”

The Provost, she assumed, nodded. Say’ri could see nothing. But she could hear….and sense. The Provost shouted, and Lang Ming immediately charged for her outstretched hand. Is it going to be that easy? thought Say’ri, as she jumped and twisted her leg, delivering a powerful kick to Ming’s face. He hit the ground, rolling back. He was likely sneering and Say’ri allowed herself another smile and in a sweet, mocking tone said “That’s try number one. You have two tries left. Make them count!”

Lang Ming yelled, and this time charged towards her, throwing a few punches first. Say’ri felt them coming, slow and undisciplined, and grabbed his right wrist. Clutching the coin with in her fist, she punched Ming and threw him over her shoulder to the ground, and put her boot to his neck. “That’s twice now. I bet you wish that you only had to be my chamber boy now, huh?” She lifted her foot off his throat “Try to make the last one interesting, alright?”

Lang Ming got up and collected himself. He had been cocky at the start, and had relied on his height and weight, but no more. He circled around Say’ri dangerously. Ming had a warrior’s training, and while it focused likely on the sword and spear, he surely would have learned Taijutsu or Ken-Shai. He approached her this time with only his left shoulder exposed. Ken-Shai then, she thought. He attempted a kick, but Say’ri caught his foot and lifted. He flipped over and fell on his face to the ground, and Say’ri slammed her foot onto his head, forcing his face into the dirt. “Do you submit?” she shouted, rubbing his face in the dirt “Do you Submit?”

“Yes!” he cried out “Yes!”

“Yes what?” she shouted back

“Yes Captain, I submit!”

And at that, Say’ri lifted her blindfold and smiled “Well then, I think that settles our little match. Thank you for your service to the Imperial Army Lang Ming, you have been very helpful.”

She looked out to her soldiers, who were stunned by the display “There will be times in battle when you will face an enemy you underestimate.There will be times in battle when you will face an enemy who will underestimate you. There will be times in battle when you may find yourself wounded and without a weapon, and with an enemy charging for you. Listen well, and you will live. If not, allow your pitiful life to do some good for Her Majesty. Do you understand me?”

“Yes Captain!” shouted the soldiers

Say’ri smiled, and nodded to the provost, who began handing out kendo sticks “Today, we will begin the conditioning of our body, so that we may one day condition our mind. Provost, assign them partners, and I want you soldiers to keep dueling until you are bloody and bruised. Is that understood?”


“Yes Captain!”

“Good. Provost, do your duty. Lang Ming, if you can manage it, join in the duels. If not, you can rest in your tent for the day”

Ming smirked and shook his head and Say’ri smiling walked back to her tent. She would have her guards watch out for him. He probably wanted to kill her now. But at the very least, she now had control of her army, and for that, she would risk the wrath of one Lang Ming”

------

Back at the training grounds, the Provost was assigning soldiers to duel with one another

“Fa Ping with Yau Ming”

“Lin Jing with Zhang Wuji”

“Dim Qi with Hauvier Shin”

“Tao Ren with Guan Ying”

“Jiling Xi with Thauyer Mikal”

“Lang Ming with Liu Chang”

“Sao Fen with Yau Fei”

“Fight until you can’t fight anymore soldiers! Push your body so you can push your mind! BEGIN!”

 

[NinjaCow64]

Snippets of a War: Assembled snippets of history relevant to the Virginian Crusade

Not since the Second War of the Worlds, where Roosevelt the Second rode into battle with the evil Nazee upon his metal steed, has Holy Washington itself come under such a great threat. To this effect, I am declaring a state of national emergency. Using emergency powers, I am temporally suspending our Elective Monarchy and decreeing that Julian Harwey will be the only true heir to the Vice-Presidency upon my death. May Congress have mercy on our souls.

A hastily written note by Julian Harwey shortly upon hearing of the invasion

Holy Washington has stood untouched by heathens for over fifty-thousand Moons*. What is the secret of this city? Is the city itself blessed by Congress? Nay, it is the men and women who defend this city, those who defend the legacy of the President who are blessed. It is you who stand before me, you are Congress’ chosen people. You are the President’s Secret Service, the defenders of this city. When you die, yours souls will ascend to Congress and when your ancestors look up to the sky and pray, they will be proud.

*A Moon is a full lunar cycle and is how Holy Columbia measures time.

A speech given by Julian Harwey to the Secret Service, the men and women who will defend Holy Washington itself.

He led them to the edge of the World Lake
“My Legion of Light,
Fulfil the oath that you did take,
Send this world to eternal night.”

Filled with anger and fear,
Golden Armour, all the same,
Countless men threw the spear,
And set the world aflame.

An excerpt of a popular Bard’s rendition of the tale of President Greg Stillson and the throwing of the sunspears

OOC: I wrote these as part of my War Orders to break up the monotony and also provide some context for my actions in said orders. I thought I'd make them public because RP should be seen by everyone IMO.

 

[christos200]

Lang Ming was furious that the Captain had made fun of him. Although before her he was forced to be polite, inside him he was boiling with anger. 'If I do not beat the ass of this bastard Liu Chang, no one will take me seriously!", he thought. 'I was already humiliated by this annoying girl, I cannot be also humiliated by this idiot!'

Lang Ming had brought with him two loyal servants. It was normal for noblemen serving in the army to bring a few loyal to them servants to serve them, especially as the most young of them where not used to military life. One of those servants approached Lang Ming and asked him, "Master, are you not confident of victory?"

"Not much, to say the truth." Lang Ming admitted.

"I have a way to allow you to win but...."

"But what?!"

"It is too dangerous."

"What is it?!"

Lang Ming could not keep his cool at all.

"Well, there is a drug that both increases by a lot your power and does not allow you to feel any pain at all."

Lang Ming began laughing like a madman. But the servant was less excited: "However, it is dangerous for your health. Some die when they take this drug. Even those who survive, they become ill for a few weeks at least. Also, not feeling pain may not always be good for you, because you may be injured badly and not realize it due to lack of pain."

"I don't care!", Lang Ming shouted. "I demand that you give me this drug!"

The servant, afraid that if anything happened to his Master he would be punished, tried to refuse but once Lang Ming got furious, the servant became terrified and was forced to feed him the drug.

'Now', Lang Ming thought, 'Liu Chang, we are going to battle as equals!!'

----------------------------------------------------

Liu Chang was with his two brothers and was waiting for Lang Ming to come so that the fight could begin. They had already practiced some swordsmanship and now the Provost wanted to test their hand to hand combat skills.

"Well, you were right brother", Zhang Wuji said. "That girl really kicked Lang Ming's ass."

Liu Chang smiled. "I told you not to judge her negatively due to her age and background. I am truly impressed by her. We need people like her in order to restore the Empress's powers, punish the wicked officials and help the common people!"

Guan Ying rarely joked, but this time he found the chance to do so: "Brother, I rarely hear you speak with such good words for someone."

Indeed, Liu Chang always spoke with admiring words for the Captain, despite what others said about her being too young or accusing her of owing the position to her mother.

"You!", Liu Chang shouted. "Stop making jokes. When I said that I was impressed by her, I meant that I... I was impressed with her martial arts. So, please do not joke with me Brother."

Although a very brave man and a great warrior, when it came to women Liu Chang was far too shy. So, he strongly disliked such jokes. Thankfully, Tao Ren, the one who would fight Guan Ying, came forward and so Guan Ying had to leave in order to fight him, sparing Liu Chang of further jokes.

------------------------------------------------

Guan Ying and Tao Ren bowed slightly, a polite gesture of greeting between martial artists, and began to fight. Guan Ying somersaulted and launched a series of palm attacks which Tao Ren proceeded to block with his left hand. Nevertheless, despite blocking the attacks, Tao Ren was slowly but steadily retreating.

Tao Ren, wanting to take the initiative, attempted to kick Guan Ying with his right leg, but Guan Ying dodged the kick. Tao Ren launched another five kicks, but Guan Ying dodged all of them. He then attempted to hit Guan Ying's face with a fast back kick, but Guan Ying leaped backwards. Tao Ren charged against him and Guan Ying, instead of trying to block the attack, jumped and leaped above Tao Ren, landing behind him. He then grabbed Tao Ren with a quick move and threw him violently to the ground, causing him to bleed.

Guan Ying bowed before Tao Ren and said, "Excellent martial arts."

"You too are a great martial artist", Tao Ren replied. Once Guan Ying helped him get up, Tao Ren left and went to his tent to get some medicine while Guan Ying returned to his brothers.

------------------------------------------------------

The next fight was between Zhang Wuji and Lin Jing. Both men were sturdy and hotheaded, and so the fight was quick and brutal. Lin Jing attempted to grab Zhang Wuji, but he kicked Lin Jing's face with a back kick, causing him to vomit some blood. But the fight was far from over.

Lin Jing launched a series of attacks using his right elbow and managed to hit with it Zhang Wuji's nose, breaking it, before Zhang Wuji could regain the momentum by kicking Lin Jing with another back kick which, although it was blocked by Lin Jing, allowed Zhang Wuji go on the offensive and Lin Jing was forced to go on the defensive.

Zhang Wuji then used the 'Bloody Fists' technique and his fists were moving like a chain, attacking one after the other in quick succession Lin Jing. Soon, Lin Jing was not able to keep up with the fastness of the attack and Zhang Wuji's fists got through his defenses, bruising his chest and caused him to admit defeat.

-----------------------------------------

The third fight was between Liu Chang and Lang Ming.

Liu Chang greeted politely Lang Ming with a slight bow. But Lang Ming shouted, "Save me of your hypocrisy, bastard!!" and attacked without warning.

Lang Ming's right fist was going to hit Liu Chang's face and Liu Chang, who had expected that Lang Ming would greet him, as normal, before attacking, was barely able to dodge the attack. Then, Lang Ming launched a powerful kick. A loud sound was heard, revealing the strength behind the kick. Few could avoid such a strong and fast kick and Liu Chang, who was surprised by the speed and ferocity of the attack as he knew that Lang Ming was a mediocre fighter, was not able to avoid it. The kick hit his chest, pushing him back and causing him to vomit lot of blood.

Lang Ming was laughing. "Get up, you bastard! We are not finished yet!"

Zhang Wuji and Guan Ying were both worried but they could not intervene.

Liu Chang got up and then heard a feminine male voice, coming seemingly out of nowhere, shouting: "Use the 'Eight Trigram' technique."

Liu Chang was surprised; this was his family's secret technique. How could this man know about this? But nevertheless, despite his surprise, he followed the man's advice.

Shouting, "The Dragon Goes Forward", he leaped forward and attacked Lang Ming with both of his palms, but he blocked the attack.

Liu Chang then shouted, "The Dragon's tail!", and launched a series of back kicks, which were not so much powerful as they were fast. Lang Ming, who seemed to be winning a few seconds ago, was now on the defensive.

"Eagle Claws!!"

Liu Chang then attacked his his right hand's middle and index fingers, forming an 'Eagle Claw'. His attack was so vicious that it literally slashed Lang Ming's chest, causing him to bleed nonstop.

He then said, Heavenly Wind!", and hit with his knee Lang Ming's stomach, pushing him backwards.

But, despite all this attacks, Lang Ming not only seemed to not feel any pain at all, but his strength was also not diminished at all.

Liu Chang could not understand how this was possible. 'I caused him to bleed so much and yet he feels no pain? What type of martial arts is this?'

Before Liu Chang could think about it, Lang Ming attacked once again, this time attempting to grab Liu Chang. But Liu Chang leaped backwards, dodging the grab. Nevertheless, Lang Ming launched another attack. In a flash, his left fist flipped over and aimed for the right shoulder of Liu Chang while the right hand went for the chest.

Liu Chang retreated three paces and fended off the blows. Suddenly, Liu Chang stepped forward and swept his left leg across at Lang Ming who jumped clear off the ground to avoid it and countered with a fist aimed at Liu Chang's face. Liu Chang avoided the fist and the two continued to fight for 60 more moves until Liu Chang suddenly attacked Lang Ming with both fists, one of which slammed into his shoulder. Lang Ming took hold of Liu Chang's wrist and attacked his elbow in retaliation. With his free hand, Liu Chang swinged at Lang Ming's other shoulder and the two leaped apart.

Of the two, Lang Ming had the worst of the encounter. Liu Chang, seeing how badly injured Lang Ming was, thought that the fight was over and so he bowed slightly before him and was about to leave. But as soon as he turned his back at Lang Ming, he drew a small but quite sharp knife, which he had hidden, and charged with it at Liu Chang, aiming at killing him. Thankfully, both Zhang Wuji and Guan Ying shouted: "Look behind you!"

Instinctively, and without a thought, Liu Chang launched a back kick, as if he did not attack quickly, Lang Ming would stab him and kill him. The back kick was so poweful that it crushed Lang Ming's skull, killing him instantly.

Liu Chang immediately rushed towards Lang Ming. "Are you alright?", he frenziedly asked. But Lang Ming did not reply, as he was already dead.

Liu Chang could not help but sigh. 'Why people are so stupid?' he thought. 'If he had accepted defeat and trained harder, he could have beat me in the future. But, instead, he chose to be stubborn and tried to kill me. What a shame! He could have been of great service to the Empire....'

 

[Exhera]

Oswald Baker, 302 SL, speaking at the Illinoisan parliament



Greetings, good folk of Illinois. I have attended this meeting to announce my stance on the issue of outside threats.

I. Our foreign policy has been undecided until now. Isolationism and Internationalism are both viable and reasonable options, but I shall side with neither. Instead, my view is rather in the median of the two. We shall maintain a high budget regarding defense, and create a small amount of international ties. This will put us in a position so that if attacked, our defense and alliances will keep the people of Illinois safe. If we chose isolationism, the fight would endure until the resources exhausted and the manpower of our nation depleted. If chose purely internationalism, the enemy could flood our nation with troops and secure their grip on our land before the allies could arrive.

II. Another reason I have chosen to spoke is about the Indianan territories recently settled. I propose to the parliament the Act of Alliance, to cede these territories to Agalin under the conditions that Agalin holds an alliance with Illinois for ten years at least and relations are established. If Agalin declines the proposal, establish the territories as 'the Republic of West Agalin', with the same government as Carbondale. (OOC: Spread Illinoisan ideas and religion to Agalin, no where else.)

III. My third proposal is the Act of Federalism, where Sprinfield is established as the federal district, where the Grand Chancellor personally governs. Arnold III and I would trade chancellorship. I would like extend my term so that the Grand Chancellorship elections align with the other Chancellor elections, under the condition that I can not achieve a second term.

IV. Finally, I propose the Act of Freedom, where the governance methods like that of Carbondale are instituted in the other republics. I propose that voting be extending to all men and women above 18. I suggest that all religions are accepted, and that no man or women shall be denied a right because of their race. (OOC: don't know if any of these are already enacted or true, but who cares? FREEDOM!)

 

[arya126]

Le Orders Lock. I summon Zee Sonereal!

 

[Sonereal]

First Lock

War in the East​

It was eerie to watch so much of Norfolk burn, the officer of the Holy Columbian army thought. Norfolk's army was, unfortunate for it, on the wrong side of the bay when Holy Columbian raiders swooped int Norfolk, causing so much destruction and pillaging that a larger city burned for three days on end.

However, the war took a decided turn for the worst after that for Ravenwal, for before any of her massive armies could come to bear, before any prisoner exchange could be finalized, before the capital was even aware, there was a coup in the Borderlands. Phillippe Alexandre Vaudreiul, bless his soul, was able to escape his post as coup forces stormed his fort and executed the loyalist forces. General Lon Causer, the wily 48-year old veteran of the Ravenwal forces, wasn't through quite yet.

The coup was timed to be completed an hour before religious services in the country began. The political elite of Ravenwal would not hear of the news of the coup until the religious elite of the country began praising the heroic actions of Lon Causer, who "is the only one capable of resisting the Crimson Legion and prevent the Second Witch King".

Who is bankrolling Lon Causer is a mystery, but how the previously demilitarized Borderlands managed to accrue a sizable standing force is not. Olaf Black, the three year old ruler of the Jarldom of Witchbane, has been put under "house protection" by a vote of the country's regency council, headed by a man known as Westbane, the spymaster and marshal of Witchbane. This news had reached Ravenwal a day earlier, but it barely registered in the political establishment at the time.

As the prisoner exchange drew closer, the political situation grew increasingly tense. Ravenwal nobility orchestrated a crackdown of pro-Causer religious and political rhetoric, and even began going after some of the most powerful merchant families of Ravenwal, some of who were suspected to have funded, or are continuing to fund, the coup in the Borderlands. Clan Windspear and New Tramen, once more, ordered their armies to remain behind their borders.

The prisoner exchange came, and went. Holy Columbian forces learned quickly that Ravenwal had delivered false gold.

A large Ravenwal army is beginning its push south, while Army of the Moon, now south of the city, finds itself torn at the leadership level as to how to approach raids. The Army of Washington finds itself isolated, unable to return home to shore up its own defense at home. The leaders of Norfolk and Washington have already renewed their loyalty to their liege, while the Western Lords and Clans of New Tramen, Windspear, and the High Lordship of Allegheny have remained fairly quiet, lying in wait for the shoe to drop.

Update tomorrow.

 

[arya126]

...The borderlands were not demilitarized. In fact they would be heavily militarized. And I had a large military force there. And I poured money into religious propaganda this turn. And...none of that except Norfolk makes sense.

 

[Mosher]

What does it mean to be a Crimson Legionnaire? To answer that question, one must first ask themselves: what is the Crimson Legion? For what does it stand? What are its principles, its guiding moral code through which it divines its foreign and domestic policy? These are the important questions, that pierce to the very heart and soul of our great Legion's purpose, and its inevitable destiny.


The Crimson Legion itself started out as a small organization of disenfranchised intellectuals and craftsmen who were ostracized and banished from the societies of the small petty kings of the Greater New English region for their increasing influence in local politics. In the eyes of the petty kings, politics was an arena for warriors, priests, and the established nobility only – where the long dead ancients and the divines were the only ones who could choose who to rule the human nations. This group of intellectuals and craftsmen staked out an empty piece of land, rich in raw materials such as timber, iron, and coal, in the great forests of New England.


And it was in this spot that the first whispers of the Great Crimson Gear were heard, as machinery and engineering were once more words heard on the lips of not just scholars speaking in hushed tones of the past glories of civilization, but spoken by the every man – things that were used daily. This small bastion thrived, and, in time, expanded, along with the belief of Gearism. It was through the development of machines, used both for war and peaceful purposes, that drove the newly-minted Crimson Legion to the forefront of the region. As the Legion's ability to manufacture and trade grew ever stronger, its economic and political might eventually matched, outgrew, and then totally eclipsed that of the petty kings who had originally exiled the first Legionnaires. Many villages and towns in the region peacefully applied for annexation by the Crimson Legion (as annexation meant to be graced by Legionnaire traders, and with them, their wonderful machines), and those who didn't did not last long before the might of Legionnaire iron. One particularly stubborn city, sitting on the bank of a great river that its locals called the Penobscot, was blasted to rubble, and then burned to the ground when it would not admit Crimson merchants, and denied application for annexation. The Legion continued its inexorable march until the entire surrounding region flew its banners, with Gearist temples and schools by the dozens being erected in the freshly annexed towns. Many hundreds and thousands found their lives invariably improved by the Legion takeover, as many of them experienced basic (albeit public) plumbing for the first time, with the larger towns receiving even engineers from the heartland to build manufacturies and schools.


Such is the way of the Crimson Legion, and the Great Gear. Those who welcome it with open arms and those who have to have it forced upon them both will find themselves inundated by Legionnaire reconstruction teams, building schools and installing plumbing to bring their new people directly into the fold. And though many villages burned, and many hundreds of warriors fell protecting the old ways by which they had lived their whole lives, and their father's whole lives, and their father's father's whole lives, the Legion brought to the survivors the light. The truth. The only spear that can truly cut through the darkness.


The Crimson Gear.

 

[Sonereal]

Action chatrooms are great for five players.

Unsurprisingly, IOTs aren't. Especially when the game has over twice that number of players registered.

There is strong interest, but only from a handful of people. Worse thing I can do is update tomorrow and run into this problem again next week or the week after. Lets just say the work:benefit ratio just isn't that pleasing.

So, game over.