Update 4 - Year 1275 CE
Global Events:
An Anglian colony in North America got pillaged utterly by the Iroquois, soon to be followed by the Severoslavian one.
Well-advised by Robert Wallace, a Caledonian Aryanist Christian whose father was a partisan leader in Caledonia, the Messipians wage a brutal partisan war against the Scotians. MacOrvall falls in an ambush, and his forces fail to advance despite the new reinforcements. With time, they also begin to adopt horses, in part those that migrated from the Scotian colonies, in part those stolen by Wallace. However, a new menace appears, as the Svenians and Fennians land on the coast, greatly outnumbering the defenses in the coastal city of Mesawappa (although the ridiculous Fennian hopes that the diseases they are immune to will destroy the Messipian population). After seizing the city with ease, the Svenian commander, despite thinking that advancing via the river with longboats is better, had to obey the kings orders and marched along the nearly unexistant Messipian roads to Ojibva. As he went, his forces were greatly harassed by the enemy, and took large casualties. But now, Ojibva was reached and taken by the tired Svenian troops.
(-13 Messipian battalions, -4 Scotian battalions, -1 Fennian battalion, -3 Svenian battalions)
The Mayan Empire continues to collapse, though a group of generals prepared some of the troops for a desperate defense of Copan. After the Emperor comitted suicide, the Severoslavians advanced greatly, and so did the Svenians who landed in Yucatan.
(-29 Mayan battalions, -entire Mayan fleet, -1 Severoslavian battalion, -2 Svenian battalions)
Long story cut short, the Visgoth crusader fleet crushes the Varidrung Berbers. Martin, the crusader leader, sacrificed himself during the battle, taking Tariq down with him. Merendik, the Varidrung Berber leader, was not on that flagship though, and died in the semilegendary last defense of Vallia, the Varidrung rebellion center, which ended with the city being burned down, resulting in death of many Berbers and Crusaders alike.
(-10 Visgoth Martin Knight battalions, -3 Visgoth battalions, -9 Visgoth ships, -entire Varidrung military)
The Vakuchi Shamans are about to break the secrets of the firearms, as the nation advanced to the Late Ancient Age, but then, despite the superior Vakuchi tactics, the superior Incan strategy allowed for a momentous breakthrough. As two smaller Incan forces begun searching for the Vakuchi capital, they were intercepted by Vakuchi forces who inflicted many casualties on them. But though stopping those two forces, the Vakuchi were now distracted and too weak to move against a huge and well-trained Incan army that could afford many casualties. It advanced to and took the capital (pillaging it), though the learned shamans escaped from it, as were some of the Vakuchi leaders. The capture of the capital does not only have a moral effect, but also gave another strategic advantage to the Incans.
(-11 Incan battalions, -6 Vakuchi battalions)
Incan fleet manages, with luck, to reach the Polynesian islands. It has to do much restocking before heading further west, though.
Catholic and Aryan Caledonians finally worked out a coalition, and rebelled against the Scotians throughout large parts of Caledonia. Several Scotian garrisons defected or were slaughtered from the start. The Ten-Year Rebellion has begun...
(-5 Scotian battalions)
In Lappia, winters are becoming increasingly harsh... A Fennian knower (Tarunist analog of academician) theorizes that this will lead to Lappia collapsing in near time (-2 Economy for Lappia).
Severoslavians decided to mobilize. Though not many subjects understood what the emperor meant, troops previously trained for city defense against raiders were incorporated into the army (+30 battalions).
Baltian and Polian forces attack the Khazars!
(-3 Polian battalions, -17 Baltian battalions, -2 Baltian sleipnir battalions, -16 Khazarian battalions)
Meanwhile, Khazarian engineers come up with the cavalry-artillery, light artillery carried by horses over great distances, very useful in offensives and in large numbers. Indeed, Khazaria seems to have Europes best land artillery now.
Visgoths and Lombards are now the only ones in the anti-Berber coalition still actively fighting Berbers. On the sea, the Berbers carry the day, disrupting supply lines and sinking several ships and preventing naval support. On the ground, the European forces for the first time confront the same Dervish Berbers that once humbled the Alexandrines. The Berber army is a very mobile one, and a one that knows all the desert trails. This allows for efficient hit-and-run warfare. However, with the Popes blessing inspiring them, the Lombards fight back a counteroffensive, while Visgoths, despite taking many casualties, seize Marrakech.
(-8 Visgoth battalions, -7 Visgoth ships, -5 Lombard battalions, -6 Lombard ships, -5 Berber battalions, -8 Berber ships, -2 Berber skullwalls)
Croatians occupy the garrison-less Alexandrine city of Tunis.
Alexandrine Fleet intercepted one of the two Cretan counterattack fleets near Sicily. As the Alexandrines outnumbered the Cretans vastly, they annihilated most of that Cretan fleet.
(-18 Cretan ships, -21 Alexandrine ships)
But the larger Cretan fleet still reached Crete. There, the Alexandrine garrison has been facing constant rebellions, to the extent that the local commander ordered the destruction of Knososs. The city was burned down to the ground, and the people were put into a forced labor camp to construct the new fortifications. The garrison commanders name was Tellurius. This name is today associated with miscalculation, as the Cretans delivered small gunpowder bombs secretly during the night, and distributed them amongst the rural resistance movements. Thus, the fortresses were being sabotaged by those rural Cretans who specifically made the Alexandrine troops notice and capture them, and then took the bombs that they previously hid. This tactic was used to terrorize the enemy. The confusion allowed the Cretan army to land in the ruins of Knososs, and avenge its destruction after all, they outnumbered the enemy and the Cretan fleet provided most welcome support fire. None of the Alexandrine garrison escaped, as some surrendered and most died, though killing many Cretans.
(-30 Alexandrine battalions, -24 Cretan battalions)
Valerian, a genius architect, is charged by the Alexandrine Emperor to design the new Nile forts. They are built well, and Valerian also built them so that they are hard to sabotage, having learned from the lessons of Crete.
After being ordered to search the nearby territory again, the Polian African prospectors finally found gold! Already now, the arrangements are being made for the construction of mines there.
Fighting is very indecisive between Trebzond and Khazaria, as Khazarians are trying to rout out the Georgian resistance, and Trebzond starts limited, cautious counterattacks. However, this is simply because Trebzond is busy reuniting the Byzantine Empire. Thracians surrendered very quickly, while Ephesian forces were forced back to their capital by the overwhelmingly numerous, disciplined and modern Trebzondian army.
(-3 Khazarian battalions, -11 Trebzondian battalions, -1 Trebzondian ship, -14 Ephesian battalions)
As the situation in Persia continued to deteriorate, Judea has sent in the Elaphim to assist the remaining Persian and Khazarian forces there. With ruthless efficiency, the shock troops of Itzhakist Alliance crushed all the rebels, though most of these surrendered anyway as soon as they found out that Elaphim were coming. As the Persian Emperors situation is still far from stable, Judea has taken up temporary military administration in the former rebel regions.
(-1 Judean elaph, -1 Khazarian battalion)
The Sinhalese gain HUGE amounts of land. However, despite the best efforts, it is hard to establish effective control. The new Kazakanese government simply expels all the Juang loyalists into Sinhalese parts of Kazakan, where they, naturally, rebel. The Manchus and Mongols living in the northernmost lands are rebelling as well, they resent both the Juang and Sinhala, and want independence. And finally, the NDranese use the moment after Juang forces left to rebel.
Discontent with Wang Emperors cession of the empire of his fathers grows (-1 Confidence)...
Successful sabotage of the Huang He dam, apparently committed by the Heavenly Warriors, damaged the Juang agriculture (-1 Economy). The Juang forces again receive little specific orders about fighting the Chinese rebellion, being just ordered to put it down. They are, however, led by General Nabunai, who efficiently crushed the southern rebellions and besieged Wuhan. The Heavenly Warriors raise rebellions elsewhere, though.
(-9 Juang battalions, -4 Heavenly Warrior battalions, -large parts of Tzin Shus peasant army)
The Hamamatsu Emperor remained rather passive and did not order anything to his troops. This proved critical, as the Edo forces stormed Hamamatsu and outnumbered the defenders easily, taking the city and capturing the emperor. Remaining Hamamatsu forces continued to hold ground elsewhere (those on Hokkaido and Sakhalin surrendered soon after, though), but lack coordination. Victory has a price, though - the sheer amount of men they had to conscript and the supplies they had to provide for the new troops resulted in the economy being on the brink of recession (into which it fell soon after as all exports from Kyushu were stopped), leading to massive pro-Tokugawa peasant revolts (-2 Culture). Soon after, even more fruits of this victory were stolen after Tokugawa fleets intensive bombardment of Edo, the Imperial Palace was destroyed, and the Hamamatsu Emperors body was not found...
(-13 Edo battalions, -9 Edo gunpowder samurai battalions, -9 Hamamatsu battalions, -6 Hamamatsu gunpowder samurai battalions)
In other news, Tokugawa orders the end of the rice blockade against the Hamamatsu. Rumors spread of an alliance...
The Sinhalese discover a fairly large island to the east of Kangappura, Maorim. However, it is populated by ferocious Maori tribes, the southernmost of which is trying to unify the island with moderate success.
Random Events:
More volunteers join the Sabahese army (+10 battalions).
As Baltia goes to war with the Tarunists, the new Sleipnir Cavalry units are formed by the nobility (+5 sleipnir battalions).
The Zulu introduction of archers brings more volunteers into the army as people want to try out their marksmanship (+5 battalions).
Order of Martin has been formed in Visgothia, to launch a crusade against Varidrung rebels (+5 battalions).
The continued survival of the Heavenly Warriors and the enigmatic speeches made by Shai Pai Ming and Tzin Shu led to a massive peasant uprising throughout the rest of China.
Thanks to the brilliance of Tokugawas engineers, the Takahari Frigates are designed. They are clearly way ahead of their time (Tokugawa switches to Middle Colonial Age, only one educ. level penalty rather then two)...
Droughts in Alexandrine Empire are seen by some as Gods punishment for war against Crete (-1 Economy).
Scotian colonies are, largely, quite profitless but are draining some money into sustaining them (-1 Economy).
Spotlight:
Revenge of the Baltians.
"Brethren in arms! Once more have the Tarunist hordes been fought back. But never turn your backs to Baltia. It still is there."
- General Abraam, after the Battle at Vortil. Year 1210 CE.
The Khazarians did expect the Baltian attack, and even placed a number of troops on the border. But as the main war was going on in the south, there were simply not enough forces there. And besides, the first strike was not on the border. It was in Tmutahan.
A large amount of Baltian veteran raiders landed in the capital under the cover of the night, and in the confusing battle that ensued, overpowered the local militia and honorary guard, pillaged and seized the city. The Kagan, luckily, was in the south fighting the Trebizondians and thus wasnt captured.
This was the signal for the huge Baltian army to march into Khazaria yet again.
What came just after was a very hard fought and lucky victory for the Baltians. The Khazar forces introduced a new idea, trenches that will protect their troops from enemy artillery and charges, but unfortunately the more conservative commanders were reluctant to implement this. This allowed the Baltians to break through in the center, this and the fear of the new Sleipnir horn-helmeted cavalry that the Baltians adopted. The Khazar forces regrouped further southwest, though, but too were broken when a Polian force landed just behind the enemy lines. The trenches couldnt really save the Khazars from an offensive from three directions. Khazarias post-Civil War Itzhakist core was collapsing, though the northeastern forces fought back a Baltian offensive on the small village of Sarkel, a psychological victory. Baltian forces proceeded to pillage the captured territory, including the synagogues.
Dark days returned to Khazaria, especially as the eastern, Tarunist provinces begun thinking of a rebellion yet again...
NPC Diplo:
From: Mayan Generals
To: Severoslavia, Svenia
We would agree to a treaty which will leave us with all the lands we still hold.
From: Trebzond
To: Crete
You still want to help the Itzhakist barbarians after you deal with the Maronite one?
From: NDranese Rebels
To: Sinhalese India
We care not about whether or not you fought the Juangs. Grant us independence and we might be good allies. Refuse us independence and we will fight you to the very end of this existence.
OOC:
Reno, um, the Messipians already saw Scotian horses, saw horseman armies, saw and heard firearms and already suffered from the diseases brought by Europeans.
I know I forgot to do most of your orders, I know I forgot to do most of your orders, I know I forgot to do most of your orders.
Live with it.
All complaints about the quality of this update should go to all the people who ordered the establishment of new colonies (AKA Colonialist Scum). The sheer amount of time I waste to put all of their colonies on the map...
