INES Ib: Novus Ortus

[Niklas]

Jahiyavarman I, King of all Khmer and crowned Chakravartin, stood silent at his window, looking at the bustling courtyard below. So much life, so many hopes and dreams, all in his hands. He sighed and turned away, walked back into his chambers and sat down at his desk. He had been meaning to read some of the communiques from the northern provinces, but instead he just sat looking straight ahead, followed the dancing flame of a candle in a sconce on the wall. Lately he had begun feeling every year in his body, even though they only numbered 38. His eyes were not as sharp as they once were, and some days his left leg made it hard to get out of bed. Being he who turns the Dharma Chakra sure didn't make the aches any less.

What really pained him though was not the physical aches, or his diminishing eye sight. Far worse was the ache inside over the loss of his son and heir. Strong-willed Surya, the coughs had taken him not a year ago, a young man in his prime. No way for a ruler-to-be to pass away. But such was life, and as Buddha teaches, loss is part of life. That only made the pain worse, the fact that he could not accept this loss and move on. He would need to find strength somewhere, and then a new heir. It would be the hardest moment of his life.

Jahiyavarman I, King of all Khmer and crowned Chakravartin, averted his gaze from the flickering light and picked up the top communique from the pile in front of him.

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

Hope it's not too late for a story to make this deadline. It's not like it will affect gameplay any.

 

[Nuka-sama]

Ehh, what the heck, I'll be Bachia, orders being sent

 

[Perfectionist]

I don't think it's too late. Last turn, there were eight stories posted after the orders deadline. However, it is too late to send orders.

*****​

It is the feast of Saint Arascach, and the great nobility of the Empire have gathered in the great cathedral of Avignon. The High Priests themselves are there, and have given sermons on the war, and the sacrifices necessary. As the last of them finishes speaking, the Emperor ascends to the dais. The people are surprised; they had not expected the Emperor to talk. Pepin stands there for a moment, surrounded by the panoply of the Church, looking out over the flower of the Imperial nobility. He begins to speak, quietly at first, so that those in the back rows must strain to hear him, then louder.

“These have been dark times. Dark for the Empire, dark for Trinitism. We are seemingly surrounded on all sides by enemies. The Ctha'rist has attacked us, attacked Europe, in a bid for domination, and convinced the Byzantines to join him. They outnumbered us, and caught us while our back was turned. They thought to have an easy victory.

But the Ctha'rist underestimated us. He underestimated our resolve, underestimated our will to fight, underestimated what godly men may do in the defense of the innocent. We have not been defeated. We fight on still, and though we face many enemies, we win victories. Genoa has been liberated, the Pyrenees have been retaken, and though the Byzantines have advanced, they have paid for every yard with blood.

Indeed, it is only the Byzantines who have fought with us as equals. Only the Byzantines have been able to defeat us in level combat. Every time that Trinitists and Ctha'rists have met, and the numbers have been close to equal, Trinitists have had the day. So the Ctha'rist has beguiled the Byzantines into doing his work for him. Byzantines to do the dying, and Tunisians and Aegyptians to claim the spoils, that was the Ctha'rist plan. An uneven exchange. And it is here that I have good news. The Byzantines have decided not to do the Ctha'rist's work for him. They have decided to make peace.

Now there are no distractions. We can focus our full power on the Ctha'rist. And so now, it is Trinitism versus Ctha'rism. The great war, the war that has been fought, in some form or another, for centuries, the war that the Ctha'rist, above all else, wanted to avoid. On this battle depends the survival of Trinitism. On it depends our way of life and our Empire. The Ctha'rist knows that he must break us now or fall. All his terrible might will descend upon us. We will be ready, the people of Europe will be ready. The hordes of Africa will face the armies of Europe. And by the will of the gods we will be victorious.”

 

[Imago]

Ehh, what the heck, I'll be Bachia, orders being sent

I suppose I'll accept them. It's not as if the update's getting done anytime soon.

(To be precise, I have the domestic section done, and one war done. However, there are many other wars to go. And now, due to someone's unforseen set of orders, I have to rework all of Europe.)

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Two weeks ago, Ctha'rist assassins killed our king, and his heirs.

Assasination is the tool of the weak and cowardly. Tunis sent no one.

Only the Byzantines have been able to defeat us in level combat.

True. I only beat up the Iberians when they had a numerical advantage.

 

[LittleBoots]

"I came upon a group of men mocking a Celtic captive. The young man was in chains on his knees, staring blankly at the ground. The men were ridiculing him, kicking dirt at him, and spitting on the ground near him, a considerable insult in our lands."

"What noble men the Greeks employ!"

"No more noble than can be expected. For you see, we had just come through some of the most intense fighting of the German campaign and our famed Greek hospitality is not invincible. These men were burdened with their pains and had given themselves over to the empty ease of sin. And yet I did not continue walking, though I was due for a strategy session with the Strategoi."

"Indeed?"

"Indeed. I walked over to them and asked them. I said, 'Why do you insult this man so?' 'Why, he is a Celt, my lord!' replied they. 'He is a man,' answered I, "He is a child of the Highest.' At this point I raised the Celt to his feet. He stumbled, as his hands were bound, and the mud he was covered in soiled my tunic, but I simply smiled. 'Look into this man's eyes. Do you not see the eyes of a man? Do you not see the work of the Almighty?' 'My Lord, he is an enemy!' protested these soldiers. 'No,' said I simply, 'He is a brother. This brother fought for what he believes to be the Truth and you do no less yourself. The Kyrios did not die for Kyrians. He died for all mankind. He did not come to forgive you and I alone, my friend, but this little one here. This brave warrior who has been kneeling in this mud, enduring your ridicule, no doubt thinking of what horrible shame he has brought upon himself through capture.'"

"But... why say such a thing?"

"The man looked at me in awe. This Celt who had nothing suddenly had that which we had stripped him of - his dignity. That man had his honour back and I had the power to give it to him. He had committed no crime against us. And his sins against God are already forgiven. It was then that I demanded his key and I released his chains. Yet he did not run."

"Even from your camp in Germany?"

"No, he did not run. Neoteles, could you step in here for a moment."

"Who is this armoured man?"

"Neoteles is Greek for 'New Purpose.' The man from the story did not run to his family. No, but we brought his family to him. Neoteles followed me silently to my meeting and has rarely left my side since. He is one of my most trusted bodyguards"

"This is the man?"

"Indeed. Neoteles did not convert to Kyrianity immediately. In fact, it was many years and many hours of conversation before he decided to join the Ekklesia. Yet he was no less a person to me, nor to God Himself. Neoteles has told me many times I gave him then more than any man has ever given him. I do my best to respond, 'How very little I gave in light of God's gift to you.' Thank you Neoteles, you may go. As for you, I believe it is time to retire. Perhaps tomorrow night you could tell me stories of your time in Paris and we could discuss your Trinity at greater length."

- Conversations with a Trinitist, Alexandros IV Megas

 

[jeps]

Just noticed this, and its an apt question, as, much like two weeks ago, I am not convinced I will be able to get the update done in any sort of timely fashion.

That means I might be able to get my story in by tomorrow!!

 

[Imago]

First, I would like to tell you all that I'm sorry.

I've been intending to quit NESing for some time now; my free time has recently become more and more limited. I was intending to wait until this NES reached some proper conclusion, but recent events have forced me to do otherwise. This has nothing to do with NESing itself; if I had the free time, I would keep going with INES for sure, and join most other NESes, to boot, but the fact is, I don't.

This turn would have been a decisive one, and it would have been clear which side won the Great Crusades, once and for all, so I am truely sorry that the update is likely to never come. However, this might all be for the best, because, as things are left, all your empires still have a fighting chance.

If any sort of time opens up for me in the next few weeks, I will finish update 5, just so you all can see what happened, but I probably won't have the time. No awards for this; it just didn't go on long enough. And don't try to convince me to continue this, either, because I very much want to, but a variety of things are forcing me away.

I'll still be lurking, so if you people have questions about the update, or whatnot, I suppose I'll answer them. You all were great players, and I mean that. However, barring questions, I'm gone, so see ya. ()

 

[The Farow]

First, I would like to tell you all that I'm sorry.

I've been intending to quit NESing for some time now; my free time has recently become more and more limited. I was intending to wait until this NES reached some proper conclusion, but recent events have forced me to do otherwise. This has nothing to do with NESing itself; if I had the free time, I would keep going with INES for sure, and join most other NESes, to boot, but the fact is, I don't.

This turn would have been a decisive one, and it would have been clear which side won the Great Crusades, once and for all, so I am truely sorry that the update is likely to never come. However, this might all be for the best, because, as things are left, all your empires still have a fighting chance.

If any sort of time opens up for me in the next few weeks, I will finish update 5, just so you all can see what happened, but I probably won't have the time. No awards for this; it just didn't go on long enough. And don't try to convince me to continue this, either, because I very much want to, but a variety of things are forcing me away.

I'll still be lurking, so if you people have questions about the update, or whatnot, I suppose I'll answer them. You all were great players, and I mean that. However, barring questions, I'm gone, so see ya. ()

Wow, this was a suprise.

Sorry to see you go and I hope you return soon

 

[BEHIND_THE_MASK]

U've taken my trust and pushed it onto the ground hten kicked the crap out of it...

I understand...

All there is to do now is to open my own NES. I might not work out as good as this one but damn it if I cant try.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I am sorry it has to end, but it has been grand fun. Thanks very much for all your effort for our enjoyment.

 

[jeps]

Either way, thank you for a great NES. Hopefully I can later on see Axum's rise to greatness. This series has been a great learning experience for me, and I enjoyed it a lot. I will soon start my own NES. If alright with you, and a few other things, I would like to at the least use the althist (war of endings NES?) or maybe continue after the update and have a BT. However, I have to think about this, as I must accomplish a lot before doing so.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

AAARRRGGHH!!!

I got in so much trouble with my parents this morning by spending 'too much time' sending orders!

Though I understand Imago... hope things turn out fine for your schedule.

 

[Imago]

Sorry to see you go and I hope you return soon

Oh, I'm not really leaving. I'm just going to be hanging about the forum without enough time to actually participate. Sort of like Gelion.

All there is to do now is to open my own NES. I might not work out as good as this one but damn it if I cant try.

I don't know why, but I would very much like to see a board NES, possibly something much like the abortive j eps States and Provinces NES. Should be an easy way to enter modding.

I would like to at the least use the althist (war of endings NES?)

Sure. If you want a map, I could probably give it to you as well, as INES came about after I messed around with paint for a rather long while. I have maps for every fifty years from 1000 BCE to 1 AD.

or maybe continue after the update and have a BT.

If you were up to it, I would very much like that. No reason the NES should die just because I can't mod. Again, there's a whole host of things I could PM you, so just ask.

I got in so much trouble with my parents this morning by spending 'too much time' sending orders!

Well, they were good orders, and I enjoyed reading them.

 

[Perfectionist]

What a pity. Well, it's been fun. Thanks for all the effort you put into this. I don't suppose you will tell us who would have won the Great Crusades?

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I had (I think) a pretty decent shot of ruining your army Perf.

 

[Perfectionist]

Really? I was going to try to ruin your navy. What did you do? I sent 70 Squadrons into the Med, assuming England didn't betray me.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I figured you'd try something like that.

That would totally eff up my plans, I knew I should have put in more contingencies.

Then again, attacking me or Morocco would just give me more support.

And my navy is nothing to sniff at at that. It would definitely make things tricky. And I had several allies to help...

Once again, hard to say.

 

[fantasmo]

Was I as utterly ignored as I expected to be?


And if j_eps don't want it, Imago don't mind, and y'all don't think I would utterly destroy it, I'd be ecstatic to take over as mod from Imago. I assume there'll be a resounding "piss off" in reply, but I just thought I'd offer.

 

[LittleBoots]

Never mind, you answered my question.

I really hope you have the time. I was really wanting to see how everything panned out.