JN ES: Time Will Tell
Update 1
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GHORTHAN MERCHANTS DOMINATE SEAS
Trade in the western Mediterranean continues to grow throughout the century, much of it driven by the successes of the Ghorthan maritime traders. What many would have thought of as a threat to Ghortha, the blossoming of civilization on the mainland has lead to rapid economic development, attracting traders from Ghortha to visit. Though as the minimal obsidian and precious shells supply on the island becomes exhausted (the major exports), Ghorthan merchants have taken up trading with the nomads of North Africa. The Rennte and Fezian peoples gladly accept Ghorthan pottery and other manufactured goods in exchange for salt and wild spices, which is then traded to the mainland states.
TARNESSA ESTABLISHES PONTU EMPIRE
Ghorthan influence on the southern Pontu people has resulted in the founding of the Tarnessan Empire based out of the small village of Candomo. Wielding weapons, most acquired through trade with the Ghorthans, the Tarnessans were able to build and empire rather quickly that stretches across much of the southern plains. This centralization of power over the Pontu tribes has prompted the same to happen in the north. The Sunnans of the coast have organized themselves into Valina, while Hyntan kings arise even further north out of the cities of Hynta and Lona. With the centralization of power and uniform language (all languages stem from the Ghorthan alphabet), trade amongst the new states seems to have naturally taken the place that war and violence fills everywhere else in the world.
EGYPT FALLS, UNITY COMES TO THE NILE
King Atakanothem V, successor the Great, achieved what his forefathers never thought possible: a united Nile River Valley. It was just a few decades ago that the Egyptians had formed a thriving kingdom, almost dominant among those of the Nile. However, as time went on their northern neighbors continued to have one advantage: a link to the rest of the world. With the proliferation of iron technology brought by Vegasian traders, the Hem formed new weapons and new tactics that finally overcame the Egyptians. At the battle of Herat, Hem and Yentet warriors overcame the Egyptians and their allies, defeating their army handily. With the city of Herat firmly under the control of Atakanothem V, the victorious king turned his forces south and laid siege to Thebes. After a few months, the city fell to a final assault that cost both sides many men. The remainder of Egypt soon after succumbed to Atakanothem and his army. After a few years the last remaining independent city agreed to submit to Atakanothem rule and Yentet joined the Hem Empire.
HEM CONQUERS CANAAN
Riding on the high of complete victory over Egypt, Atakanothem V turned his invigorated army northward. The Canaanites were nothing more than a dozen or so warring tribes when Hems forces entered the land and were never able to put up a unified front against the invaders. Eventually, the whole of the region was conquered by Hem, bringing much needed timber and slave resources under the control of Hem. Unfortunately, Atakanothem contracted a fever during the campaign, returning to Sairet an ill man who eventually died. His son, Atakanothem VI, succeeds him.
IRON USE COMPELS NEW EMPIRES TO FORM IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
The first people to use iron on a large scale also formed the first empire that used iron as a base for its rapid expansion: the Hittites. Before the adoption of iron, the Hittites were nothing more than a backwater people from the village of Hatassus. A year later, Hatassus is a city of thousands who rule an empire stretching thousands of miles. In Anatolia, only the Luvians resisted the Hittite expansionist craze, repelling the Hittite army by inflecting high casualties, though also taking heavy losses themselves. Eventually the Luvians dissuaded the Hittites from conquering their small country. Three smaller states also rose as a result of iron technology. The city-state of Ugarit found dominance in the Orontes River region, while the city of Tyre grew rich from trade with Hem and the rest of Mesopotamia. Speaking of trade, the last civilization to rise were the Vegasians. Known for their quality copper, the Vegasians quickly built a reputation as fair and lucrative trade partners. Eventually the Vegasians would come to be the prime facilitators of sea-based trade in the region.
HITTITES, ASSYRIANS DUKE IT OUT
The Hittite army, brandishing iron weapons, first broke into Mesopotamia with the capture of the city of Malatya. At the same time, the Assyrian army had conquered the city of Mari to the south. Having never met an enemy that matched the strength of the Assyrian army, King Tiglath turned his force northward to meet the Hittites head on. The battle that resulted was a disaster for the Assyrians, nearly half of Tigleths main force was destroyed before retreating. The Hittites pressed their advantage, reaching the banks of the Tigris before withdrawing. The Assyrians, like most of the rest of Mesopotamia, have begun to rapidly embrace iron smelting technology in anticipation of a future attack.
CULT OF SZANDOR LAVEY SPREADS IN SHEOL AND PROMPTS AMON WAR
Followers of the great Szandor LaVey, or Laviites, as they have become known, have risen in number throughout the city-state of Sheol. The cult emphasizes an extreme hatred of and disdain for all those who are not fellow Laviites, or even worse, non-Sheolians. From this philosophy has grown an extremely aggressive foreign policy. Raids on smaller towns and villages outside the borders of Sheol are not uncommon. In the region of middle Mesopotamia, the Sheolians have become the enemies of many different peoples. Not surprising was the Sheol-Amon War which began with a surprise invasion of Sheolian soldiers. Thousands of men participated in the siege of Amon, and even more died in the ensuing bloodbath when the walls fell. Though the infusion of slaves from the victory has led to the hasty construction of various monuments to LaVey throughout Lof Yfel, the biggest prize was the addition of thousands more to the population, from which more soldiers may be recruited.
KINTASH TAKES HEAVY LOSSES AT SIEGE OF AZAREH
History has it that the city of Azareh was the capital of a Hoelian Empire that stretched as far south as the Persian Gulf, encompassing much of what Kintash considers its homeland today. While the legacy of this past Empire only barely surviving through dwindling legends and tales, the Kintashi look to create their own legacy with a campaign northward. Azareh, however, would prove to be a formidable foe. The walls of the city are among the highest in the Mesopotamia, and its people are proud and fiercely independent. The initial siege was immediate thrown off with a counterattack against the Kintashi army. However, Kintashi perseverance was displayed with the return of a larger, more powerful Kintashi force the following year. This siege held up against Azarehan counterattacks, eventually bringing down the city, though not before forcing heavy casualties on the Kintash.
MESOPOTAMIA, INDUS ENTERS THE IRON AGE AND ALL THAT IT ENTAILS
With the spread of iron technology into the land between the two rivers, war between the states intensifies as each clamors to dominate one another. An impetus for the increasing violence is the looming threat of an Assyrian or Hittite invasion of the smaller city-states, prompting wars that attempt to increase relative power. In the Indus Valley region, the spread of iron use has prompted the beginning of a new age of civilization as new cities and states are founded across the plains and within the various river valleys,
GREAT RULER EXPANDS POWER OF BARA MAGNA
Some say Toa Nuva is a direct descendent of Toa Mata, though most believe it as a matter of tradition to call the ruler a descendent of the great god Toa Nuva. Nevertheless, Matas deeds and accomplishments have convinced those nay-sayers that perhaps he is worth enough to call himself Toa. Mata began his reign by recruiting those he could trust to lead his much enlarged army, so that he may accomplish more in his reign than that of his predecessors. The most trusted general of Mata, Tahu, led an army of thousands northward and into the famed lands of lapis lazuli. Here Tahu established contact with the city-state of Shorthugi, whose merchants supply not only Bara Magna, but most of the rest of the subcontinent with famed lapis. Matas other generals made more progress. A border was established with the farming Gujarati to the south while the city of Mehrgahr in the west was captured along with the very fertile Baluchi valley.
BANASIAN RAIDERS TEST BARA MAGNA DEFENSES
The Visorak Desert, situated just east of the capital of Kanohi, is a breeding ground for nomadic herdsmen and raiding parties alike. Though no army has yet conquered the Visorak, its presence has threatened the security of the capital. At one point, a large raiding party from the desert caught the guards of the city off-guard, slipping through the open gates and pillaging a good portion of the city.
WESHI CONQUERED BY BANTU WARRIORS
As the Bantu seek to expand their territory, the obvious direction was to head south and into the lads of the Weshi. The Weshi were, before the invasion, peaceful tribes who harvested grain on the shores of the Limpopo River, occasionally trading with the Bantu or the Taanswi. The invasion came at a surprise and the Weshi really stood no chance at repelling the superior numbers of the Bantu.
DROUGHT STRIKES BANTU
As the Bantu population grows, so does the demand for food. Most of what the Bantu rely upon is wild game, or else grain grown on marginal soil and subject to the whims of rainfall patterns. For the last decade, though, a major drought has struck the northern regions of the Bantu people. Fleeing the drought-stricken areas as put increased pressure on the food production of the southern region. This of course has had a cascading effect that has resulted in thousands of Bantu migrating into the recently-conquered Weshi region, displacing thousands of Weshi people. And the end may still not be in sight as the drought has only increased in intensity and the regions affected by it are creeping upward.
XINGBAO EXPANDS RELATIONS SOUTH
In an effort to attract unity with the other small city-states of the southern Wi, Xingbao attempted a show of strength by marching an army south through the small chiefdoms of the Wi. Though many were unimpressed, the larger city-states realize their precarious position on the outskirts of civilization. With the pledge that they be allowed to locally govern themselves and have the same rights as natural Xingbao people, the cities of Tan (north) and Wu (south) have joined the Xingbao Empire. Though immediately problems arose with the joining of Wu, since many powerful Wi chiefdoms exist between the southern border of Xingbao and the gates of Wu. As such, a strong maritime connection is established and the first Xingbao war galley commissioned.
XINGBAO-YI ROYAL MARRIAGE PROMPTS SHIANG INVASION
The royal marriage between the Yi princess and Xingbao prince has prompted a quick reaction from Shiang as they see this act of consolidation a threat. The Shiang fear that Xingbao or the Yi will use this newfound friendship as a weapon against the Shiang, and better to extinguish this threat now before it becomes unmanageable. The Shiangese army crossed into Yi territory unannounced and was able to make it to the capital of Xinjao before the Yi could muster their army. The siege lasted only a few days before the Yi surrendered and Emperor Win taken hostage. Meanwhile, the betrothed prince and princess made their way to Xingbao where they have pleaded with Emperor Minau IX to send aid to Yi.
FROM THE MOD:
Remember, your REVENUE is what you have to spend, not your economy.
Well, I'll probably see it tomorrow morning, when I wake up...
When is the next deadline?
Anything in my orders that ought to be changed?
