Update IV- 2200 BCE
Gotcha
-Last words of a Tripolean soldier to an disarmed Scythian before being eaten by a Tunnel Fiend
Hawaii's expansion through the central Pacific is continuing at its typical rapid rate. Their tamers of the sea have discovered more islands to the west of the Hawaiian archipelago. They were promptly settled. Natives on the islands, who like the barbarians of Oahu seemed to be distantly related to the Hawaiians, were welcoming. The mystery of Hawaii's history is slowly coming together, one piece at a time.
The massive Colony Ship is now nearly complete. It is structurally complete, and now only has to receive its layer of soil (for farming) to be complete.
(+1000 population, +1 loyalty)
The Hyperboreans are experiencing a period of relative peace with the natives. They have, at least for the moment, ceased their expansion southward into OTL Quebec. They are focusing instead on founding cities around the Sea of Voormithadreth. Newly met natives on the western and southern coasts of the sea have gotten along much better with the Hyperboreans than those in Quebec. Gifts of grain have been accepted graciously, for the rising temperatures have driven away many traditional huntable animals, causing a famine.
In Hyperborea's far-flung colonies, warp portals are rendering roads and sea routes unnecessary. This is greatly appreciated by the population in general, who greatly fear the uncontrolled Horror that has still yet to be found.
Elgovia's rapid expansion has slowed down somewhat, and other native tribes are less angered by Elgovia's vast land claims. The outposts on the river system are growing into towns and cities, and most of the people are content to remain where they are. But there are always a few adventurous spirits who wish to travel, and these people have built more cites on the Elgovian frontier.
Dur Khaz' problems with the Jungle necromancers continue. The living dead regularly launch night raids, and the spider riders are barely managing to drive them back. Casualties are beginning to become significant.
(-50 infantry)
On OTL Iceland, the nation of Avalon, led by Lady Morgan, has risen to prominence. They have begun construction of a building, the Tower of Immortality, in memory the Great Mages and to serve as a meeting place.
The New Atlantis/Atlantica war is coming to an end. The New Atlanteans, with their more numerous Golems, smashed their way over the river and annihilated the weakened Atlantican army. The Atlanticans are now beseiged at their capital of Nanta, and are unlikely to hold out for much longer.
(-200 Atlantican infantry, -10 Atlantican Golems, -100 New Atlantean infantry)
The Picts have now become an official part of Gorin. Merzan has lived up to his end of the bargain by building roads and ensuring a good quality of life for these people, and they are quite content. But despite the warnings of the former Picts, Gorin landed on the island they called Dreadmire (OTL Ireland) with the intention of colonizing it. The living island fought them, and all of the recent arrivals would have died had it not been for the heroic defense by several Pyromancers, who incinerated part of the island. While the small patch of land is free of the underground Terror, Dreadmire is by no means finished.
(-5 War Wizards, -50 infantry)
The Pirates of the western Mediterranean have accepted Karthages offer and formed the nation of Balaeria. The people have repented their past ways and are forming a nation in the mold of Karthage.
Karthage is benefiting greatly from this period of peace. They have received the island of Corsica and expanded their Mediterranean borders to meet those of New Atlantis. Trade has begun with their former enemies, now close allies, the Balaerians.
(+1 Loyalty)
Isolationist Germania is continuing its expansion through northern Europe. Their large population has finally forced them to start building cities, but they have almost no impact on the landscape. Their tree-cities are difficult to discover even in clear weather, a fact the Germanians take great pride in.
Illyria has solidified its claim on Thrace, fearing that Ur may retake the land before it. The Peloponnesian pirates have still not attacked Illyria, and rumours say that they are busy studying magic. A more troubling rumour is that Karthage is teaching these people magic, to keep Illyria at bay as a Mediterranean power.
The Tripolye/Scythia war has reached a deadly new level. The occupied Scythian city rebelled so violently that it had to be utterly destroyed. Raids up the Don river have been very successful, for the Scythians have too weak a navy to stop the Tripolean galleys. But the land defense has been too tight to allow any successful landings, so all attacks have been from the volhvi in the galleys. On land, the Tripolean army advanced to the Don river finding the lands bereft of Scythians. They had all pulled back to the safety of the capital. The Tripoleans a fort on the western side of the river, within sight of the Scythian capital of Azov. They were expecting a counteroffensive, but it never came. What came was vastly more terrifying than what they had expected from the Scythians. For the geomantic Scythians had brought terrifying creatures called Tunnel Fiends under their control. The grublike beasts were ten feet long with colossal mandibled jaws. They started bursting from the ground, killing and eating Tripoleans at random. Then once the Tripoleans were in disarray trying to fight off their subterranean enemies, the Scythians attacked unannounced from the north. The ensuing battle was the fiercest since the Battle of Libya a millenia earlier. Shapeshifting oborotni battled deadly ambush Tunnel Fiends. Scythians and Tripoleans lost great amounts of men, but neither could retreat. After hours of fighting, once both armies were cut down to shadows of their former selves, the Scythians, much closer to a defeat than Tripolye, retreated back over the river. After all of this, a few of the barbarian northern Scythians launched a raid on Tripolye, but to no success. With both of their armies exhausted, will these two nations agree to peace, or fight a bloody war to the death?
(-100 Scythian cavalry, -200 Scythian infantry, - 10 Tunnel Fiends, -200 Tripolean infantry, -50 Tripolean cavalry, -10 Oborotni)
Little has happened in Central Africa. But a great deal has just occured in the north. Khemri, angered by Abyssinia's refusal to abandon its colonies in the Sinai, has taken them by force. Abyssinia had put too little effort into defending its holdings and too much into expansion. The fight for the Sinai was brief. All sorts of human soldiers and vampires poured into the peninsula, taking it in less than a week. The southernmost city was the only one that didn't fall into Khemri's hands, and only because its residents would rather see it torched than in the hands of the necromancers.
(-50 Khemri infantry, +1000 Khemri population, -10 Abyssinian rocs, -1000 Abyssinian population)
Ur's expansion back into its old lands is continuing, and many are calling it "The dawn of the second Golden Age".
The Indus Empire is continuing its expansion. People isolated after the collapse of Ur ages ago have welcomed the Indus people, valuing their protection.
(+1000 population)
The Mongol Horde has now reached China's northern border. The Chinese, fearing an attack from these people, have fortified their border with the Mongols. It is believed by the Chinese public that a confrontation is inevitable. It is known by the Mongols.
In frozen Antarctica, the Ice Mages are beginning to develop from a nation into a culture. Despite their location, their social actions are creating one of the highest living standards of this time.
Much to the surprise of human observers, the Penguin Kingdoms of Bikk and Tiss did not go to war. It seems that the penguins have not yet had their minds poisoned by knowledge of war. The humans of Ross hope it stays that way.
Story Bonuses:
Israelite9191- +1 point of project construction
Disenfranchised- +1 loyalty
Erik Mesoy- +1 loyalty
Kal'Thzar- +1 loyalty, +10 Vampires
TerrisH- +1 loyalty
das- +10 Volhvi
Toteone- +1 point into increasing economy
The Strategos- +1 loyalty, +10 galleys
Notes:
-Only active magics react with each other. Ur was celebrating a magical festival at the time of the disaster at the start of the war.
-Diamond shapes on the map are forts.
I'll do the stats later, getting tired.
