Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
Everyone agree with me: Iggy is mean! He actually wants us to hate him for painfully slow (and painful) updates.
LINESII- Into the Darkness- Part III
- Thread starter Lord_Iggy
- Start date
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
Stop relying on Alaska! Your poorly veiled excuses are not amusing us. >: )
I don't think I'll make it, unless I drastically lower the quality of the rest of the update. Which is everything south of Khemri. Anyway, I'm well over halfway done.
I'm really enjoying the short orders, BTW. I think I'll slightly lengthen the limit for next update.
I'm really enjoying the short orders, BTW. I think I'll slightly lengthen the limit for next update.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: Wha what? Why is it Asia or whatever part of the world I'm in always last? 
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: A likely story, I'm afraid a panda may be forced to visit the ah... backwater (?) that is the Whitehorse Zoo If you have a zoo... 
If you have a zoo... Agh! Update's nearly finished, but my parents caught me up this late and are not impressed.
Anyway, I'm leaving town for twoish days tomorrow, so the update will be finished and posted sometime early next week.
Sorry for those people who can't wait for the update. Try to distract yourselves with things in your real lives, or something like that.
Anyway, I'm leaving town for twoish days tomorrow, so the update will be finished and posted sometime early next week.
Sorry for those people who can't wait for the update. Try to distract yourselves with things in your real lives, or something like that.
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
A likely story...
Iggy, you can always do what I did (back when I had a consistently running NES), which was flip the starting point every update. So in an Earth fresh start I usually went from Europe eastward one day, then China westward the next.
Iggy, you can always do what I did (back when I had a consistently running NES), which was flip the starting point every update. So in an Earth fresh start I usually went from Europe eastward one day, then China westward the next.
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Or you could start with the region whose members sent orders first. A nice little reward for them...
Update 29- Years 1840 to 1901: Death and Decay
The Yathai have focused heavy missionary efforts on the mainland and other tribes in the area. Conversions are occurring, but only half of one island voluntarily joined them.
Several new colonies have been founded on the coast, and explorations are continuing to enlarge the known world.
The first major discovery was another civilized nation. They called themselves the Chincuk, and quickly built up a small maritime ‘empire’, taking over the barbarians on their more poorly defended front.
To the south of Chincuk, are the militarist Xochicalco. This tribe is quite powerful, but its expansion is hindered by the horrific beasts of the jungle, further inland.
On the opposite coast of the mainland, Yathai vessels made contact with a mysterious group who simply call themselves ‘The Offlanders’. Little information on them is known to the Yathai, but it is rumoured that they have harnessed great powers of wisdom and magic.
*****
No one can say exactly where it originated, though most agree that it was somewhere in eastern Myocaca, possibly in what was once Emor. The jungles of Cultesia had often held many fearsome diseases, but this one was new.
It first began to spread shortly after the Battle of Three Emperors. The disease quickly spread throughout Myocaca, and soon spread to the Valin and Guangfei soldiers who were pulling out of the country.
When sickly sailors and soldiers returned to Redemption, Autorex Tactius immediately suspected the worst and had them quarantined. However, he could not stop every single returning Valin from entering Veritas (some returned by land, others came by even more roundabout routes), and several isolated outbreaks began to occur. Throughout the country, the disease became known as ‘Gasping Death’, ‘Strangling Death’, or other names along that line, for the way it killed its victims, slowly flooding their lungs until they could breathe no longer.
While Veritas struggled to keep the Death from becoming an epidemic, Guangfei had less luck as its massive armies marched southwards, back home. The terrible plague spread like wildfire through Aryie and into Guangfei. Emperor Zhang was in no position to take action against the spread, because he was with the army, and deathly ill. Realizing the situation, the bureaucracy of Guangfei quickly took steps to stop the spread- but they were too late. The carriers of the plague reached the river systems, and began to spread throughout the country. In desperation, all river travel was temporarily banned, to prevent further spread. This seems to have succeeded, as the spread of disease upriver of the city of Shangei has been very limited. However, it is rampaging through the northern regions of the country, leaving countless dead.
Unfortunately for the Shangei provinces, the disease simply arrived from another vector. Valins fleeing the plague unwittingly carried it over the White/Dadong Mountains, and into Rajkutra. Rajkutran traders then simply brought their goods- and unwelcome disease, with them. However, this time, the spread has remained limited.
The countries of the far south have, at least for the moment, been spared the ravages of the Gasping Death.
Moving northwards, the plague spread to Khemri and Zuoharra, though it had a far more severe effect on the former. The large, dense cities of Khemri allowed the disease to spread like wildfire. From there, it spread northwards, along both sides of the dividing spine of the Keran Range, finally coming to a halt in Gamorrea, Northern Gorin, and Croyodon.
However, it was not anywhere near finished yet…
Valin ships, traveling from Myocaca to help Kelios in its fight against the Divotheists, were carrying the virus themselves. Not wanting to risk spreading the virus to their potential political and religious allies, Veritas instead landed its ships in the very heart of Chancosanx, Sobol. The Gasping Death proved to be horrifically contagious in Azulia, and within months, well over half of the population of Chancosanx was dead. And the disease spread…
The Death raged eastwards, gutting Chancosanx’ army, then spreading into Kelios. Kelios suffered nearly as much, losing huge numbers of soldiers, then civilians. Attempts to close off the passes had a small degree of success, as the plague faded out towards the eastern end of the country. Syracia simply closed its borders, and the disease (which had lost most of its momentum) barely affected them at all (other than, of course, their forces in Kelios).
The spread westwards, into Tir Tairngire, was not nearly as bad, and the effects on Zamdar were practically minor in comparison to its eastern neighbours.
The formerly warring countries of Kelios and Chancosanx were devastated. The small, sickly Valin force managed to conquer the entire country of Chancosanx with almost no losses. In a rare show of respect for the Divotheist religion, the Valins had the bodies of the dead burned, as per Divotheist tradition.
Kelios entered a de facto peace with its former enemies, and retook the lands which it had lost. However, the victory was about as hollow as it could possibly get. The nation was ruined in almost every way. The population has plummeted, the republic is reduced to practically zero-functionality, the army is miniscule, and powerless to stop the northern Tsayans from taking away the western edges of their territory.
For its part, Chancosanx is crushed, but it retains the possibility of recovery, depending on the actions of their current occupiers.
Syracia focused mostly on its constant campaign against the pirates. Some discontent is beginning to rise about the war, but recent successes have for the most part cancelled this out.
Ida’an’i’i villagers, seeing how their quality of life would improve under Syracian rule, have begun to overthrow their leaders and abandon the ways of piracy. However, in reaction to this, several Pirate States have begun to pacify and spread out more wealth, to help keep public support leaning strongly towards them.
Raids against Syracia have all but stopped.
(-1000 Swordsmen)
Under the command of Prince Chawric (the heir to the Connall line of Chiefs) and the Davian General Tern, Pirian forces advanced against the beleaguered Divotheists supporting Klishin. Upon the arrival of thousands of new, powerful soldiers, the Pirians gave one last offer to Chief Klishin: Surrender, and your people will not be forced to convert. Continue to fight, and all Divotheists will be persecuted.
Seeing no hope in his position Klishin, surrendered and went into exile in Easthold. Chawric has since spent several years trying to get the nation functional again, which has been difficult due to the huge instability and disease in the region. An external problem has arisen with Zamdar occupying a Tuatha-majority area in the north, having entered it when it was unclaimed by Klishin’s government.
Ironically, the Union of Ardan lost many more forces from the Strangling Death than it did from any form of combat.
(-1000 Tuatha Volunteers, -2000 Davian Marines, -500 Archers, -500 Swordsmen)
Times are good in Zamdar. The Halls of Memoria have been defeated, prompting the arrival of many foreigh scholars, and encouraging the development of them at home. Expansion into the northlands is going well, and the spread of Banism into other Azulian nations has accelerated, due to the recent plague, which had surprisingly limited effects on Zamdar. Throughout the nation, the mood is optimistic.
And it was with this upbeat, confident attitude that Zamdar marched to war. Though pacifist elements of the nation protested, they went largely unheard.
Under the leadership of Harbinger Ivan a young, skilled and zealous commander, a force of thousands of Zamdar’s powerful troops smashed through the border with the Union of Ardan. The limited forces present in Arcadia were woefully ineffective against the lightning pace of Ivan’s advance. Militia were raised, but those that managed to prepare in time were cut apart by enemy cavalry, or mixed forces if they set up cavalry traps and stakes.
As Ivan’s force, known widely as ‘Bane’s Fist’, advanced towards the Arcadian hearlands, a second army, the ‘White Dragon’, moved in to mop up resistance. The militia fought bravely, but they didn’t have the time to gather into an effective force. Their army was in Tir Tairngire, and their best militia were fighting against rebellious factions in Orum. Nonetheless, the people of Arcadia finally scored a victory against the Harbinger’s force, preventing him from crossing the river and capturing Vael Dash. The Battle of Caridython secured the Arcadian position, and Zamdar advanced no further.
Their gains are considerable. Zamdar has captured over half of Arcadia, though the fervently Pirian people are in open rebellion, which the invaders simply lack the capacity to properly deal with.
More recently, hopes have begun to rise for the Union of Ardan. Its considerable navy has been brought into play, and Zamdar is blockaded. Raids frequently hit its coasts, causing havoc with the economy and national confidence. Additionally, the forces in Tir Tairngire returned, attacking straight into Zamdar to open a new, and highly-unexpected front. This force nearly made it to the capital, before a large militia and some hastily-constructed defenses stopped them.
Despite all of this, Ardan is still very lucky. For Zamdar was expecting help… from Khemri. This help only arrived in a fleet, which while powerful, was not quite large enough to finish off the highly-mobile Jyuphias. Khemri managed to land a few thousand Royal Guards (many suffering from the Gasping Death), but the staunch resistance of the locals, the continuing disease (which failed to spread significantly in the Arcadian winters), and brutal supply problems prevented any significant advances.
Khemri also sent an army to occupy Davar, which it did with little bloodshed and considerable ease.
Davar’s militia in Orum, aiding the local Orumos against the more rebellious groups, slowly re-established control over most of the nation. The people of Orum are becoming slightly more welcoming of their role as part of the Union of Ardan, though they still have little in common with the rest of the nation.
Now why did Khemri fail to send a great force to Arcadia? I will get around to that interesting story shortly. And by shortly, I mean after writing about everything north of Khemri.
(-2000 Justiciars, -1500 Zamdar Cavalry, -Lots of UoA militia, -500 Spearmen, -1500 Marines, -40 UoA Jyuphia, -25 Khemri Caravels, -500 Royal Guards)
Otaria has been affected by the plague, but it can focus its exclusive attention on internal affairs, so it has not suffered nearly as much as many other nations. Its only other problems are what some believe to be corruption in the Svet. Representatives from the Svet have denied this as nothing but ‘baseless rumours’. However, in recent years, piracy in the area has begun to pick up, causing minor harm to the nation’s profits from exporting.
A small peasant rebellion led by a man claiming to be the White Rider reincarnated was put down, by the military and various civilians, none of whom believed in reincarnation.
Farport, the small island south of Otaria, has been relinquished by the Citadel. Shortly after this, the island was taken over by various sailors and merchants, who renamed the city to ‘Freeport’, and use it as a tax-free base for trading between Terrania and Azulia.
Gamorrea is in a strange mix of change and stagnation. The growing government has been more focused on spreading Gorrahnism than actually fighting off the Gooranist rebels to the north. The rebels have become organized, and press down towards the more civilized areas of the nation. Furthermore, control over the conquered regions of Merhai is growing very weak, while the Iron Faces eye it with some amount of longing. If things are allowed to continue this way, Gamorrea faces an irreconcilable split, once again being divided into northern and southern halves.
(-1000 Axemen, -2000 Spearmen)
For their part, the Iron Faces have consolidated their cold, harsh-climate nation. A capital, Khori, has been built, and the population is rising- as much as it can in the cold lands of the north. Occasional skirmishing takes place on the northern frontier.
Fairhelt continues on-and-off fighting with the various northern states and tribes which broke away from it during the Gamorrean/Iron Face invasion, which never officially ended.
The Barony of the Hugions (Better known simply as ‘Hugion’
has firmly established itself well in the former lands of the Citadel, and has carefully avoided stepping on any of its neighbours’ toes.
Domestically, Croyodon was quite quiet, expanding its infrastructure, entwining its two religions closer together, and generally prospering.
A masterful leader, Basu Oborski X, ascended to the throne of Gorin, and he couldn’t have arrived at a better time. The nation was being torn in a dozen different directions. He walked as much of a middle path as possible, satisfying the minorities while keeping the majority satiated. The furious Emorans were slightly reimbursed for what the Gorinese army did to them. While they are still angry, their wounds are healing. The Nkondi have been kept pacified, the moderates seem satisfied with the Kaiser’s corrections, Crystalists remain quiet, and the strongly-religious majority seems content, though it is disappointed with the Kaiser’s kowtowing to others wishes.
Gorin still walks on thin ice, and the situation shows no signs of improving. Under a less capable leader than Basu Oborski X, Gorin will be in serious trouble.
Rather than throwing his nation into civil war and ruin, The Knight resigned from his prestigious position in the army, living the rest of his days in obscurity in Khemri-occupied Davar. The status quo of a weak King Erias being controlled by the nobility continued for over a decade, until the Suffocating Death struck. It was perhaps in Khemri where the plague did the greatest damage, indirect though it was. The governmental situation of Khemri had been growing more and more unstable, though it was almost impossible to find for the casual observer.
In retrospect, the problem could be traced back to the point where the early Ptolemy dynasty, where power was granted to nobility in various regions of the empire, to improve the efficiency of administrating an increasingly-massive empire. Or, tracing it even further back, it could be put down to the point where Khemri took complete control over the notoriously difficult to hold region of Old Veritas, which created the need for further decentralization. Ultimately, the problems can be traced all the way back to Khemri’s early expansionism, where it ceased to be a nation and became an empire.
For centuries, Khemri had remained remarkably stable. This could be attributed to the flexible and assimilative capabilities of its culture and religion, and some historians believe that, had this been the only variable, the United Kingdom of Khemri and Kehexou could have continued its existence, and even expansion indefinitely. However, saturation of power in nobility has the tendency to create greed, and a desire for greater power.
The retirement of the Knight, a strongly-loyal supporter of Dysonis, was only the last step towards Khemri’s present situation.
As the Strangling Death struck, the nobility had quarantines instated throughout the country, ostensibly to prevent the spread, taking this time to further increase their own control over their lands. These quarantines lasted much longer than the plague, and when they were done, the King had been stripped of virtually all power, remaining only as a figurehead. The nobility now held near-total control over their lands, traveling to Khadon only for meetings and to ‘get approval’ from the King. The nobility also controlled parts of the army, roughly evenly split throughout their lands. Only those still firmly supporting a united Khemri had bothered to send forces to the aid of Zamdar.
It now seems like only a matter of time before these states become de jure independent- though exactly what is to become of Khemri remains very uncertain. At the moment, Khemri is divided into over a dozen smaller states, still closely allied, but all de facto independent. Areas with non-Khemri majorities are still partly assimilated, but remain governed by Khemri nobility. The possibility that the Valins will once again attempt to recapture Old Veritas exists, but the states of Khemri are prepared to fight off any possible invasions, should they come.
Davar and Kerania have no formal government, and various Khemri nobles compete for influence in the areas, while the Kerans and Davians concoct various plots for regaining their independence.
In a fusion of Zuoharran ingenuity and Khemri’s naval technology, the shipyards of Windkeep have produced the first Zuoharran Caravels, specialized for high-speed and high-capacity trade and travel in calm waters. The extremely high-efficiency of these trade routes has turned Windkeep into an economic center.
(+Windkeep Economic Center)
Peace was achieved in Myocaca, but the relief of peace was quickly overshadowed by the misery of plague. While most Myocacans had a good deal of resistance to disease, the Gasping Death still took many casualties, and a city where the plague had not touched was rare indeed.
As the Death ran its course, Myocaca began to reconstruct its nation from two consecutive disasters. A great anger is still held against Veritas and the ‘traitors’ of Aryie, but for the moment this anger remains in control.
The massively expanded nation of Aryie experienced severe growing pains, namely a large and discontent Myocacan minority. They were all granted dual citizenship or the right to leave, but most remained, to keep Myocaca’s claim on the territory.
New Veritas has strived to regain lost glory, beginning with the reconstruction of Redemption. The fleet is being modernized and enlarged, and expansion south of the White mountains has begun, with the construction of a city named Selenica, in honour of the mother of the Autorex.
(+Redemption Cultural Center)
Guangfei has done little in recent years, other than rebuilding and recuperating from the recent plague. Some military buildup and explosives experimentation has taken place, but other than those advances, most of Guangfei’s energies have been focused on simple recovery.
Rajkutra continues to expand quickly, establishing a border with Guangfei and a small coastline. Its faith, Tinuraj, expands even beyond this. It has established itself in Southern Guangfei, and is quickly spreading through Fwiglo, Gerougia and Rozan.
The Choking Death had a relatively minor impact on Rajkutra, with Guangfei and Valin quarantines softening the full impact of the plague.
Khemri’s colony south of Destre has struggled, but it has begun to farm the harsh nearby lands to survive, and grow. The colony near Envia, however, starved, and those who could returned to Khemri, or survived on a subsistence level.
Gerougia and Guarela have continued on as always, perhaps turning away from the rest of the world more than normal. The plague never reached them, and they continue on philosophizing and living quiet lives.
The Priory of Envia, under the rule of the rather paranoid Abbot Ferak V, prepares to defend itself from the Guarelans. No attack comes, so Ferak orders border expansion instead.
A meteor strikes near Fwiglo, and from the centre of the crater, a lump of shiny metal is found. Fwiglan smiths forge a sword from it, naming it the ‘Starblade’. This weapon has gained fame around the nation, and is held by the current High Councilman of the Council of Five.
Throughout Fwiglo, this powerful new metal has raised great interest. Learning from their maritime neighbours about newer metals, the Fwiglans have begun to use iron.
(Fwiglo Enters Iron Age)
Peace has settled in the far south, though it remains unstable. A lack of a consensus on the borders of Trinlin and Magland has left some considerable strife, which must be dealt with soon, in order to maintain peace.
Destre has possibly gained the most from the war, gaining the strategic port of Orvit, and the rich mountains in southern Trinlin. Trade will soon resume its flow through Orvit, and once they are made accessible to Destre, the mountains will supply a great deal of gifts from the earth.
Rozan, on the other hand, has gained a vast wilderness, and the poorer shore of the Trinlin river. In addition, they have gained some frustration from Trinlin, and powerful animosity from Magland.
Trinlin is reduced, but still maintains control of its core areas. Magland, on the other hand, has been reduced to a mere rump state, based on its previously underpopulated northern frontier. Many Mags have been forcibly moved here, while others resist, and remain in Magland’s traditional territories. Trinlin’s frustration with this is growing, as it is losing soldiers working alongside Rozanian patrols, for a fight that doesn’t need to happen. Magland can HAVE the central lands, Trinlinese don’t live there.
Throughout the world, great and terrible things are happening. In Azulia, chaos and death run rampant, feeble survivors crawl out of disasters, and war reigns in the Northwest. Gorin teeters on the edge, while Khemri has already fallen and shattered.
In the south, bad blood remains between many, while advances and recovery grows above. The future is, more now than any time in recent history, up for the taking.
NOTES: I forgot to remove the remaining Myocacan navy in the stats last turn, so they’re gone this turn.
I was very unsure about the Treaty of Sanctus Tutela, people claiming different borders and city ownership. I wasn’t sure which bit of the treaty was being agreed to by whom… players were getting Vicitaro (coastal) and Nurnord (southwestern) confused, so essentially, I used the map from the original treaty, let Myocaca keep Vicitaro, and used the relaxed naval restrictions of 60 Bladeremes and 25 Titans.
I just got my own laptop, and this update has been posted from it. Woohoo for not having other people booting me off the computer!
Numerous losses which I haven’t written up in the update are visible in the stats.
@Kal- You may continue to play as the Khemri Royalty, which still directly controls Khadon and the central island of the delta. Indirectly, it can exercise limited influence with the other states. Alternatively, you could take over as the nobility of one of the splinter states.
On Orders: I really liked working with short orders, though I’m adjusting the plans again slightly.
The word limit is now 500 words, not 300. And people can ask for specific permission to write longer orders. I will let them do this if they write them very clearly, with all of the important details set out simply, so I don’t have to read and re-read through massive ordersets. Oh, and they still have to be set up so they are easy to read.
To: Yathai
From: Offlanders
Adopt the ways of peace, and we will grant you great knowledge.
The Yathai have focused heavy missionary efforts on the mainland and other tribes in the area. Conversions are occurring, but only half of one island voluntarily joined them.
Several new colonies have been founded on the coast, and explorations are continuing to enlarge the known world.
The first major discovery was another civilized nation. They called themselves the Chincuk, and quickly built up a small maritime ‘empire’, taking over the barbarians on their more poorly defended front.
To the south of Chincuk, are the militarist Xochicalco. This tribe is quite powerful, but its expansion is hindered by the horrific beasts of the jungle, further inland.
On the opposite coast of the mainland, Yathai vessels made contact with a mysterious group who simply call themselves ‘The Offlanders’. Little information on them is known to the Yathai, but it is rumoured that they have harnessed great powers of wisdom and magic.
*****
No one can say exactly where it originated, though most agree that it was somewhere in eastern Myocaca, possibly in what was once Emor. The jungles of Cultesia had often held many fearsome diseases, but this one was new.
It first began to spread shortly after the Battle of Three Emperors. The disease quickly spread throughout Myocaca, and soon spread to the Valin and Guangfei soldiers who were pulling out of the country.
When sickly sailors and soldiers returned to Redemption, Autorex Tactius immediately suspected the worst and had them quarantined. However, he could not stop every single returning Valin from entering Veritas (some returned by land, others came by even more roundabout routes), and several isolated outbreaks began to occur. Throughout the country, the disease became known as ‘Gasping Death’, ‘Strangling Death’, or other names along that line, for the way it killed its victims, slowly flooding their lungs until they could breathe no longer.
While Veritas struggled to keep the Death from becoming an epidemic, Guangfei had less luck as its massive armies marched southwards, back home. The terrible plague spread like wildfire through Aryie and into Guangfei. Emperor Zhang was in no position to take action against the spread, because he was with the army, and deathly ill. Realizing the situation, the bureaucracy of Guangfei quickly took steps to stop the spread- but they were too late. The carriers of the plague reached the river systems, and began to spread throughout the country. In desperation, all river travel was temporarily banned, to prevent further spread. This seems to have succeeded, as the spread of disease upriver of the city of Shangei has been very limited. However, it is rampaging through the northern regions of the country, leaving countless dead.
Unfortunately for the Shangei provinces, the disease simply arrived from another vector. Valins fleeing the plague unwittingly carried it over the White/Dadong Mountains, and into Rajkutra. Rajkutran traders then simply brought their goods- and unwelcome disease, with them. However, this time, the spread has remained limited.
The countries of the far south have, at least for the moment, been spared the ravages of the Gasping Death.
Moving northwards, the plague spread to Khemri and Zuoharra, though it had a far more severe effect on the former. The large, dense cities of Khemri allowed the disease to spread like wildfire. From there, it spread northwards, along both sides of the dividing spine of the Keran Range, finally coming to a halt in Gamorrea, Northern Gorin, and Croyodon.
However, it was not anywhere near finished yet…
Valin ships, traveling from Myocaca to help Kelios in its fight against the Divotheists, were carrying the virus themselves. Not wanting to risk spreading the virus to their potential political and religious allies, Veritas instead landed its ships in the very heart of Chancosanx, Sobol. The Gasping Death proved to be horrifically contagious in Azulia, and within months, well over half of the population of Chancosanx was dead. And the disease spread…
The Death raged eastwards, gutting Chancosanx’ army, then spreading into Kelios. Kelios suffered nearly as much, losing huge numbers of soldiers, then civilians. Attempts to close off the passes had a small degree of success, as the plague faded out towards the eastern end of the country. Syracia simply closed its borders, and the disease (which had lost most of its momentum) barely affected them at all (other than, of course, their forces in Kelios).
The spread westwards, into Tir Tairngire, was not nearly as bad, and the effects on Zamdar were practically minor in comparison to its eastern neighbours.
The formerly warring countries of Kelios and Chancosanx were devastated. The small, sickly Valin force managed to conquer the entire country of Chancosanx with almost no losses. In a rare show of respect for the Divotheist religion, the Valins had the bodies of the dead burned, as per Divotheist tradition.
Kelios entered a de facto peace with its former enemies, and retook the lands which it had lost. However, the victory was about as hollow as it could possibly get. The nation was ruined in almost every way. The population has plummeted, the republic is reduced to practically zero-functionality, the army is miniscule, and powerless to stop the northern Tsayans from taking away the western edges of their territory.
For its part, Chancosanx is crushed, but it retains the possibility of recovery, depending on the actions of their current occupiers.
Syracia focused mostly on its constant campaign against the pirates. Some discontent is beginning to rise about the war, but recent successes have for the most part cancelled this out.
Ida’an’i’i villagers, seeing how their quality of life would improve under Syracian rule, have begun to overthrow their leaders and abandon the ways of piracy. However, in reaction to this, several Pirate States have begun to pacify and spread out more wealth, to help keep public support leaning strongly towards them.
Raids against Syracia have all but stopped.
(-1000 Swordsmen)
Under the command of Prince Chawric (the heir to the Connall line of Chiefs) and the Davian General Tern, Pirian forces advanced against the beleaguered Divotheists supporting Klishin. Upon the arrival of thousands of new, powerful soldiers, the Pirians gave one last offer to Chief Klishin: Surrender, and your people will not be forced to convert. Continue to fight, and all Divotheists will be persecuted.
Seeing no hope in his position Klishin, surrendered and went into exile in Easthold. Chawric has since spent several years trying to get the nation functional again, which has been difficult due to the huge instability and disease in the region. An external problem has arisen with Zamdar occupying a Tuatha-majority area in the north, having entered it when it was unclaimed by Klishin’s government.
Ironically, the Union of Ardan lost many more forces from the Strangling Death than it did from any form of combat.
(-1000 Tuatha Volunteers, -2000 Davian Marines, -500 Archers, -500 Swordsmen)
Times are good in Zamdar. The Halls of Memoria have been defeated, prompting the arrival of many foreigh scholars, and encouraging the development of them at home. Expansion into the northlands is going well, and the spread of Banism into other Azulian nations has accelerated, due to the recent plague, which had surprisingly limited effects on Zamdar. Throughout the nation, the mood is optimistic.
And it was with this upbeat, confident attitude that Zamdar marched to war. Though pacifist elements of the nation protested, they went largely unheard.
Under the leadership of Harbinger Ivan a young, skilled and zealous commander, a force of thousands of Zamdar’s powerful troops smashed through the border with the Union of Ardan. The limited forces present in Arcadia were woefully ineffective against the lightning pace of Ivan’s advance. Militia were raised, but those that managed to prepare in time were cut apart by enemy cavalry, or mixed forces if they set up cavalry traps and stakes.
As Ivan’s force, known widely as ‘Bane’s Fist’, advanced towards the Arcadian hearlands, a second army, the ‘White Dragon’, moved in to mop up resistance. The militia fought bravely, but they didn’t have the time to gather into an effective force. Their army was in Tir Tairngire, and their best militia were fighting against rebellious factions in Orum. Nonetheless, the people of Arcadia finally scored a victory against the Harbinger’s force, preventing him from crossing the river and capturing Vael Dash. The Battle of Caridython secured the Arcadian position, and Zamdar advanced no further.
Their gains are considerable. Zamdar has captured over half of Arcadia, though the fervently Pirian people are in open rebellion, which the invaders simply lack the capacity to properly deal with.
More recently, hopes have begun to rise for the Union of Ardan. Its considerable navy has been brought into play, and Zamdar is blockaded. Raids frequently hit its coasts, causing havoc with the economy and national confidence. Additionally, the forces in Tir Tairngire returned, attacking straight into Zamdar to open a new, and highly-unexpected front. This force nearly made it to the capital, before a large militia and some hastily-constructed defenses stopped them.
Despite all of this, Ardan is still very lucky. For Zamdar was expecting help… from Khemri. This help only arrived in a fleet, which while powerful, was not quite large enough to finish off the highly-mobile Jyuphias. Khemri managed to land a few thousand Royal Guards (many suffering from the Gasping Death), but the staunch resistance of the locals, the continuing disease (which failed to spread significantly in the Arcadian winters), and brutal supply problems prevented any significant advances.
Khemri also sent an army to occupy Davar, which it did with little bloodshed and considerable ease.
Davar’s militia in Orum, aiding the local Orumos against the more rebellious groups, slowly re-established control over most of the nation. The people of Orum are becoming slightly more welcoming of their role as part of the Union of Ardan, though they still have little in common with the rest of the nation.
Now why did Khemri fail to send a great force to Arcadia? I will get around to that interesting story shortly. And by shortly, I mean after writing about everything north of Khemri.
(-2000 Justiciars, -1500 Zamdar Cavalry, -Lots of UoA militia, -500 Spearmen, -1500 Marines, -40 UoA Jyuphia, -25 Khemri Caravels, -500 Royal Guards)
Otaria has been affected by the plague, but it can focus its exclusive attention on internal affairs, so it has not suffered nearly as much as many other nations. Its only other problems are what some believe to be corruption in the Svet. Representatives from the Svet have denied this as nothing but ‘baseless rumours’. However, in recent years, piracy in the area has begun to pick up, causing minor harm to the nation’s profits from exporting.
A small peasant rebellion led by a man claiming to be the White Rider reincarnated was put down, by the military and various civilians, none of whom believed in reincarnation.
Farport, the small island south of Otaria, has been relinquished by the Citadel. Shortly after this, the island was taken over by various sailors and merchants, who renamed the city to ‘Freeport’, and use it as a tax-free base for trading between Terrania and Azulia.
Gamorrea is in a strange mix of change and stagnation. The growing government has been more focused on spreading Gorrahnism than actually fighting off the Gooranist rebels to the north. The rebels have become organized, and press down towards the more civilized areas of the nation. Furthermore, control over the conquered regions of Merhai is growing very weak, while the Iron Faces eye it with some amount of longing. If things are allowed to continue this way, Gamorrea faces an irreconcilable split, once again being divided into northern and southern halves.
(-1000 Axemen, -2000 Spearmen)
For their part, the Iron Faces have consolidated their cold, harsh-climate nation. A capital, Khori, has been built, and the population is rising- as much as it can in the cold lands of the north. Occasional skirmishing takes place on the northern frontier.
Fairhelt continues on-and-off fighting with the various northern states and tribes which broke away from it during the Gamorrean/Iron Face invasion, which never officially ended.
The Barony of the Hugions (Better known simply as ‘Hugion’
has firmly established itself well in the former lands of the Citadel, and has carefully avoided stepping on any of its neighbours’ toes.Domestically, Croyodon was quite quiet, expanding its infrastructure, entwining its two religions closer together, and generally prospering.
A masterful leader, Basu Oborski X, ascended to the throne of Gorin, and he couldn’t have arrived at a better time. The nation was being torn in a dozen different directions. He walked as much of a middle path as possible, satisfying the minorities while keeping the majority satiated. The furious Emorans were slightly reimbursed for what the Gorinese army did to them. While they are still angry, their wounds are healing. The Nkondi have been kept pacified, the moderates seem satisfied with the Kaiser’s corrections, Crystalists remain quiet, and the strongly-religious majority seems content, though it is disappointed with the Kaiser’s kowtowing to others wishes.
Gorin still walks on thin ice, and the situation shows no signs of improving. Under a less capable leader than Basu Oborski X, Gorin will be in serious trouble.
Rather than throwing his nation into civil war and ruin, The Knight resigned from his prestigious position in the army, living the rest of his days in obscurity in Khemri-occupied Davar. The status quo of a weak King Erias being controlled by the nobility continued for over a decade, until the Suffocating Death struck. It was perhaps in Khemri where the plague did the greatest damage, indirect though it was. The governmental situation of Khemri had been growing more and more unstable, though it was almost impossible to find for the casual observer.
In retrospect, the problem could be traced back to the point where the early Ptolemy dynasty, where power was granted to nobility in various regions of the empire, to improve the efficiency of administrating an increasingly-massive empire. Or, tracing it even further back, it could be put down to the point where Khemri took complete control over the notoriously difficult to hold region of Old Veritas, which created the need for further decentralization. Ultimately, the problems can be traced all the way back to Khemri’s early expansionism, where it ceased to be a nation and became an empire.
For centuries, Khemri had remained remarkably stable. This could be attributed to the flexible and assimilative capabilities of its culture and religion, and some historians believe that, had this been the only variable, the United Kingdom of Khemri and Kehexou could have continued its existence, and even expansion indefinitely. However, saturation of power in nobility has the tendency to create greed, and a desire for greater power.
The retirement of the Knight, a strongly-loyal supporter of Dysonis, was only the last step towards Khemri’s present situation.
As the Strangling Death struck, the nobility had quarantines instated throughout the country, ostensibly to prevent the spread, taking this time to further increase their own control over their lands. These quarantines lasted much longer than the plague, and when they were done, the King had been stripped of virtually all power, remaining only as a figurehead. The nobility now held near-total control over their lands, traveling to Khadon only for meetings and to ‘get approval’ from the King. The nobility also controlled parts of the army, roughly evenly split throughout their lands. Only those still firmly supporting a united Khemri had bothered to send forces to the aid of Zamdar.
It now seems like only a matter of time before these states become de jure independent- though exactly what is to become of Khemri remains very uncertain. At the moment, Khemri is divided into over a dozen smaller states, still closely allied, but all de facto independent. Areas with non-Khemri majorities are still partly assimilated, but remain governed by Khemri nobility. The possibility that the Valins will once again attempt to recapture Old Veritas exists, but the states of Khemri are prepared to fight off any possible invasions, should they come.
Davar and Kerania have no formal government, and various Khemri nobles compete for influence in the areas, while the Kerans and Davians concoct various plots for regaining their independence.
In a fusion of Zuoharran ingenuity and Khemri’s naval technology, the shipyards of Windkeep have produced the first Zuoharran Caravels, specialized for high-speed and high-capacity trade and travel in calm waters. The extremely high-efficiency of these trade routes has turned Windkeep into an economic center.
(+Windkeep Economic Center)
Peace was achieved in Myocaca, but the relief of peace was quickly overshadowed by the misery of plague. While most Myocacans had a good deal of resistance to disease, the Gasping Death still took many casualties, and a city where the plague had not touched was rare indeed.
As the Death ran its course, Myocaca began to reconstruct its nation from two consecutive disasters. A great anger is still held against Veritas and the ‘traitors’ of Aryie, but for the moment this anger remains in control.
The massively expanded nation of Aryie experienced severe growing pains, namely a large and discontent Myocacan minority. They were all granted dual citizenship or the right to leave, but most remained, to keep Myocaca’s claim on the territory.
New Veritas has strived to regain lost glory, beginning with the reconstruction of Redemption. The fleet is being modernized and enlarged, and expansion south of the White mountains has begun, with the construction of a city named Selenica, in honour of the mother of the Autorex.
(+Redemption Cultural Center)
Guangfei has done little in recent years, other than rebuilding and recuperating from the recent plague. Some military buildup and explosives experimentation has taken place, but other than those advances, most of Guangfei’s energies have been focused on simple recovery.
Rajkutra continues to expand quickly, establishing a border with Guangfei and a small coastline. Its faith, Tinuraj, expands even beyond this. It has established itself in Southern Guangfei, and is quickly spreading through Fwiglo, Gerougia and Rozan.
The Choking Death had a relatively minor impact on Rajkutra, with Guangfei and Valin quarantines softening the full impact of the plague.
Khemri’s colony south of Destre has struggled, but it has begun to farm the harsh nearby lands to survive, and grow. The colony near Envia, however, starved, and those who could returned to Khemri, or survived on a subsistence level.
Gerougia and Guarela have continued on as always, perhaps turning away from the rest of the world more than normal. The plague never reached them, and they continue on philosophizing and living quiet lives.
The Priory of Envia, under the rule of the rather paranoid Abbot Ferak V, prepares to defend itself from the Guarelans. No attack comes, so Ferak orders border expansion instead.
A meteor strikes near Fwiglo, and from the centre of the crater, a lump of shiny metal is found. Fwiglan smiths forge a sword from it, naming it the ‘Starblade’. This weapon has gained fame around the nation, and is held by the current High Councilman of the Council of Five.
Throughout Fwiglo, this powerful new metal has raised great interest. Learning from their maritime neighbours about newer metals, the Fwiglans have begun to use iron.
(Fwiglo Enters Iron Age)
Peace has settled in the far south, though it remains unstable. A lack of a consensus on the borders of Trinlin and Magland has left some considerable strife, which must be dealt with soon, in order to maintain peace.
Destre has possibly gained the most from the war, gaining the strategic port of Orvit, and the rich mountains in southern Trinlin. Trade will soon resume its flow through Orvit, and once they are made accessible to Destre, the mountains will supply a great deal of gifts from the earth.
Rozan, on the other hand, has gained a vast wilderness, and the poorer shore of the Trinlin river. In addition, they have gained some frustration from Trinlin, and powerful animosity from Magland.
Trinlin is reduced, but still maintains control of its core areas. Magland, on the other hand, has been reduced to a mere rump state, based on its previously underpopulated northern frontier. Many Mags have been forcibly moved here, while others resist, and remain in Magland’s traditional territories. Trinlin’s frustration with this is growing, as it is losing soldiers working alongside Rozanian patrols, for a fight that doesn’t need to happen. Magland can HAVE the central lands, Trinlinese don’t live there.
Throughout the world, great and terrible things are happening. In Azulia, chaos and death run rampant, feeble survivors crawl out of disasters, and war reigns in the Northwest. Gorin teeters on the edge, while Khemri has already fallen and shattered.
In the south, bad blood remains between many, while advances and recovery grows above. The future is, more now than any time in recent history, up for the taking.
NOTES: I forgot to remove the remaining Myocacan navy in the stats last turn, so they’re gone this turn.
I was very unsure about the Treaty of Sanctus Tutela, people claiming different borders and city ownership. I wasn’t sure which bit of the treaty was being agreed to by whom… players were getting Vicitaro (coastal) and Nurnord (southwestern) confused, so essentially, I used the map from the original treaty, let Myocaca keep Vicitaro, and used the relaxed naval restrictions of 60 Bladeremes and 25 Titans.
I just got my own laptop, and this update has been posted from it. Woohoo for not having other people booting me off the computer!
Numerous losses which I haven’t written up in the update are visible in the stats.
@Kal- You may continue to play as the Khemri Royalty, which still directly controls Khadon and the central island of the delta. Indirectly, it can exercise limited influence with the other states. Alternatively, you could take over as the nobility of one of the splinter states.
On Orders: I really liked working with short orders, though I’m adjusting the plans again slightly.
The word limit is now 500 words, not 300. And people can ask for specific permission to write longer orders. I will let them do this if they write them very clearly, with all of the important details set out simply, so I don’t have to read and re-read through massive ordersets. Oh, and they still have to be set up so they are easy to read.
To: Yathai
From: Offlanders
Adopt the ways of peace, and we will grant you great knowledge.
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
I'm sorry, but is it wrong for me to have enjoyed that update so much? 
Congrats on your laptop, Iggy...does this mean that you might be able to continue NESing from school? Mine is still missing the "a" key.
Congrats on your laptop, Iggy...does this mean that you might be able to continue NESing from school? Mine is still missing the "a" key.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: I dare assume the religion that I had was all but forgotten? 
Curses!
But I digress, an interesting update to say the least.
Curses!But I digress, an interesting update to say the least.
YAY AN UPDATE OMG AND I HAVEN'T EVEN READ IT YET.
This is why staying up till 0102 hours pays off.
Edit:
Actually, I think that was intended. I couldn't provide you with alex's updated map because it disappeared off imageshack (alex, this is your fault), but yes, I think that's what happened. Of course, I'll need a map to verify, but yeah, that should be good.
Woot, we're now officially traitors.
This is why staying up till 0102 hours pays off.
Edit:
Actually, I think that was intended. I couldn't provide you with alex's updated map because it disappeared off imageshack (alex, this is your fault), but yes, I think that's what happened. Of course, I'll need a map to verify, but yeah, that should be good.
Woot, we're now officially traitors.
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
It's 4 AM. I'm going to be dead tomorrow. 
But I can finish my story arc now. It's lucky the Autorex is obsessed with disease.
But I can finish my story arc now. It's lucky the Autorex is obsessed with disease.
Well, your original big enemy has collapsed into big decentralized thing, the people you supported won their war, you spread a plague which killed millions...
Hold your head high man!
I'm still not sure if I'll be able to continue moderating from school, but I'll definitely be able to continue NESing.
I might do a little low-budget fun thing.
Hold your head high man!
I'm still not sure if I'll be able to continue moderating from school, but I'll definitely be able to continue NESing.
I might do a little low-budget fun thing.
