Story Events
China has an even larger army than might be expected. This has nothing to do with political patronage. Obviously.
(+5 Chinese divisions)
Perhaps it is Pax Gallica that rules the waves…
(+5 French squadrons)
The People’s Revolution of Japan will reach the sky.
(+5 Japanese groups)
Zarina Patel has plenty of henchpeople to do her bidding.
(+5 Indian divisions)
Work makes one strong. Perpetual work makes one strong forever.
(+1 point invested in USACS ASP growth)
For the Kings of the Atlantic, putting down unrest is a royal pastime.
(+5 Atlantic divisions)
There aren’t many good jobs in Russia.
(+5 Russian divisions)
Nico Romano can build a cult of personality like the best of them.
(+Roman approval rating)
Iran feasts on jihad.
(+10 Iranian irregular divisions)
Spotlight
“This is not the first time we have been invaded. This is not the hundredth. We will hold them back. We always hold them back.”
-Diary found in the wreckage of Saana’s Christian Quarter
The word jihad is sometimes used lightly. Mojtaba Khamenei was not joking when he declared total war on the Order of Mecca. Volunteers of every age and occupation flocked to recruiting centers across the Iranian Umma as the news spread, and solidarity demonstrations broke out across the Islamic world. Israel, caught in a delicate bind, opted to declare neutrality rather than immediately side with her traditional ally. Egypt simply followed Iran’s lead and began shelling Jeddah.
The first battle of the war was fought over the Strait of Hormuz. Apparently both Iran and the Order had the idea of crossing the narrow waterway at the beginning of any hostilities. The difference was, Iran came south with far more soldiers than the Order sent north. Lacking sufficient air support, the Order’s spoiling force melted beneath the waves, leaving the beachheads of the Pirate Coast clear for the Iranians, who began working their way clockwise around the Arabian peninsula, encountering little conventional resistance. The military of Iran’s Supreme Leader was not precisely cheered—many of the Islamic sects in the region had reservations about Khamenei’s brand of ecumenical Shiism. But the intruders were tolerated. While many Christian civilians loyal to the Order fought to the death, local Muslims stood on the sidelines, apathetic, unsure whose propaganda to believe.
The fighting in the Hijjaz was far more intense. Egyptian forces, acting in loose concert with the Iranians, had hoped to catch the forces of the Order out of position and scoop up the holy cities of Mecca and Medina with little fuss. This notion was delusional. True, the bulk of the crusader army was stationed in Mesopotamia, but the Hijjaz was home to an absolute majority of Christians, few of whom had the slightest interest in surrendering sacred homeland they had held in trust for hundreds of years. Jeddah and Medina fell, but Mecca stood firm under besiegement as myriads of crusader scions took to arms. The Red Sea earned is name as the Order’s navy, forced out of port, raided all along the African coast.
Conventional battles only really took place in the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates. Here, the Order expected attack, and here Iran was repulsed. An attempted drive south from Mosul, using untrained jihadis as auxiliaries, failed to capture even the aforementioned city. Kurdish irregulars joined with the Order’s army to inflict mass casualties on Iran’s most fanatic youth.
The Order’s sole success was damning. Their main forces’ stubborn adherence to the Tigris-Euphrates line came at grave cost to other fronts. Mecca itself is in flames (much to the dismay of all involved), Iranian forces have conquered Yemen, and the ancient crusader nation is running on fumes. Many predict the Order’s complete collapse if international intervention does not come soon.
NPC Diplomacy
To: United Kingdom, Roman Republic
From: France
Aid us in recovering the Guianas, or we will terminate our alliance.
To: All Nations Bordering Russia
From: Balt Confederacy
The beast with nine lives might be defeated forever this time! Join us!
China has an even larger army than might be expected. This has nothing to do with political patronage. Obviously.
(+5 Chinese divisions)
Perhaps it is Pax Gallica that rules the waves…
(+5 French squadrons)
The People’s Revolution of Japan will reach the sky.
(+5 Japanese groups)
Zarina Patel has plenty of henchpeople to do her bidding.
(+5 Indian divisions)
Work makes one strong. Perpetual work makes one strong forever.
(+1 point invested in USACS ASP growth)
For the Kings of the Atlantic, putting down unrest is a royal pastime.
(+5 Atlantic divisions)
There aren’t many good jobs in Russia.
(+5 Russian divisions)
Nico Romano can build a cult of personality like the best of them.
(+Roman approval rating)
Iran feasts on jihad.
(+10 Iranian irregular divisions)
Spotlight
“This is not the first time we have been invaded. This is not the hundredth. We will hold them back. We always hold them back.”
-Diary found in the wreckage of Saana’s Christian Quarter
The word jihad is sometimes used lightly. Mojtaba Khamenei was not joking when he declared total war on the Order of Mecca. Volunteers of every age and occupation flocked to recruiting centers across the Iranian Umma as the news spread, and solidarity demonstrations broke out across the Islamic world. Israel, caught in a delicate bind, opted to declare neutrality rather than immediately side with her traditional ally. Egypt simply followed Iran’s lead and began shelling Jeddah.
The first battle of the war was fought over the Strait of Hormuz. Apparently both Iran and the Order had the idea of crossing the narrow waterway at the beginning of any hostilities. The difference was, Iran came south with far more soldiers than the Order sent north. Lacking sufficient air support, the Order’s spoiling force melted beneath the waves, leaving the beachheads of the Pirate Coast clear for the Iranians, who began working their way clockwise around the Arabian peninsula, encountering little conventional resistance. The military of Iran’s Supreme Leader was not precisely cheered—many of the Islamic sects in the region had reservations about Khamenei’s brand of ecumenical Shiism. But the intruders were tolerated. While many Christian civilians loyal to the Order fought to the death, local Muslims stood on the sidelines, apathetic, unsure whose propaganda to believe.
The fighting in the Hijjaz was far more intense. Egyptian forces, acting in loose concert with the Iranians, had hoped to catch the forces of the Order out of position and scoop up the holy cities of Mecca and Medina with little fuss. This notion was delusional. True, the bulk of the crusader army was stationed in Mesopotamia, but the Hijjaz was home to an absolute majority of Christians, few of whom had the slightest interest in surrendering sacred homeland they had held in trust for hundreds of years. Jeddah and Medina fell, but Mecca stood firm under besiegement as myriads of crusader scions took to arms. The Red Sea earned is name as the Order’s navy, forced out of port, raided all along the African coast.
Conventional battles only really took place in the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates. Here, the Order expected attack, and here Iran was repulsed. An attempted drive south from Mosul, using untrained jihadis as auxiliaries, failed to capture even the aforementioned city. Kurdish irregulars joined with the Order’s army to inflict mass casualties on Iran’s most fanatic youth.
The Order’s sole success was damning. Their main forces’ stubborn adherence to the Tigris-Euphrates line came at grave cost to other fronts. Mecca itself is in flames (much to the dismay of all involved), Iranian forces have conquered Yemen, and the ancient crusader nation is running on fumes. Many predict the Order’s complete collapse if international intervention does not come soon.
NPC Diplomacy
To: United Kingdom, Roman Republic
From: France
Aid us in recovering the Guianas, or we will terminate our alliance.
To: All Nations Bordering Russia
From: Balt Confederacy
The beast with nine lives might be defeated forever this time! Join us!
