Byzantine Empires coffers swell with revenue from the Crusades tax and money donated from the Pope in Rome. Recruiting and donation drives conducted by Christian Priests make the Byzantine army the strongest bastion of Christianity in the known world. The Byzantine Army heads to Taurus Mountains in Assyria to defend against a possible Muslim advance. Instead of attempting to cross those daunting mountains however, the Islamic Empire launches an assault through the Sinai at Egypt and Bosnian reinforcements. Regrettably, for the Christians the Arabs are much better at fighting in the deep deserts that comprise the Sinai. The Egyptian forces, used to battle along the Nile, and Bosnians, totally unaccustomed to the flat dry terrain of the desert are decimated by vastly superior Arab cavalry in the Battle of the Sinai. From that battle it has been a downhill struggle for the Christians. Constantly outflanked or just outfought they lose the cities of Alexandria and Cairo and fall back to defend the city of Thebes, essentially the last stronghold of Christianity in southern Egypt. In Armenia the Arabs fare not nearly as well. Expecting an Islamic attack the Armenians set up ambushes in the narrow mountain passes for the confined Bedouins and slow the Muslim advance to a crawl. Bright spots appear for the Christians when the remainder of the Byzantine Army appears in ships off of the coast of Judea. Landing in two places the Byzantines try to get behind the lines of the Islamic armies and cut their supplies and raise local rebellion. However the conduct of the crusaders isnt very cordial and they treat most locals as thought they were Muslim, with great scorn. This causes the Jews, and even a few Monophysite Christians, who enjoy religious toleration, to begin to side with the Muslims against the invading Christians. Watching the disappearance of the Byzantine army the Lombards of Italy rise in revolt against the government in Constantinople.
The Cossacks continue to set up an effective administrative system to govern their conquered territories. Across the steppe the Cossacks move into territories and begin to set their own laws and create a beauracracy to keep the populace in line. To the north their expansion is halted by the frigid cold expanse of the artic tundra.
The Nubian Kingdom fractures. Following a series of events that tear the royal family apart the death of the King causes the feuding crown princes to carve their own kingdoms from the former Kingdom. Religious differences stemming from a Islamic prince, a Christian prince with ties to Egypt and a Christian prince with ties to Axum, each serves to ignite years of sibling rivalry on an epic scale.
Honduras takes advantage of their newfound wealth to massively upgrade their armys potency and naval strength. This unprecedented military increase bleeds the Honduran economy dry and yet again the Honduran people suffer for the lack of economic foresight exhibited by their leaders. Following the military increase the Honduran government had plans to launch an expedition along the southern coastlines to discover new lands. However, this proves impossible with the lack of funds. Likewise the planned trade with Canada, slated to begin, is totally unable to gather the goods necessary to export.
After a brief pause following their defeat outside Seoul, the Japanese forces turn south again and march on the Korean capital. Following a short but fierce battle the Korean forces retreat behind their city walls and the Japanese army sets up a siege. The Japanese forces try time and again to storm the heavy city walls but each time are beaten back. That is until the arrival of the Samurai commanders. Their arrival rejuvenates the battered Japanese and the assault that follows succeeds in breaking the walls down and the Japanese storm the city in a murderous rage. Years of ineffectual siege comes pouring out in anger upon the hapless Korean citizens who are slaughtered in great numbers by the Japanese. The remnants of the Korean army retreat to an area around Pusan for the final battle.
Sinhalas economic woes worsen. Seeing the vast trade empire stumble, pirate activity vastly increases throughout the Indian Sea, preying on the trade ships remaining that ferry goods. This effectively puts a halt to trade in the area and all of the collective economies suffer.
Trade
Geystral - Vietnam (2/3)
Spain - Berbers (2/3), Sweden (0/3), Finland (0/3)
Sinhala - Magdah (1/3), Satavahanihara (0/3), Arabia (0/3), Gupta (0/3), Burma (1/3)
Arabia - Sinhala (1/3)
Japan - Yamato (2/3)
Canada - Honduras (2/3)
diplomacy
Lombardy:
to Byzantine Empire:
Allow us to govern ourselves and we will assure the Pope's protection in Rome during these tenuous times.
OOC
story in a couple hours)
