Economy
3 EP to training Spearmen.
2 EP to training Ox Chariots.
4 EP to paying upkeep.
3 EP to supplies for my forces allied with Haldran-shan of the Medean Horde of the Bow.
5 EP to completing the construction of the Great Plazas of Alamhadat, in front of the Palace. This site, a wonder to behold, is a grand public plaza lined with monuments dedicated to the Avatars of Takarzi and High-Kings of Hyak.
2 EP to sponsoring expeditions northwards to the Fallen Sea, to establish a trading port and connect the region to the trade routes of Hyak.
1 EP to putting research into newer combat materials and techniques. The use of shield walls as a counterpractice to archery is a unique first, and now we are interested in experimenting with other tactics and uses of metal, to optimize our capabilities as the death-dealing Fists of Takarzi.
2 EP to gifts to Haldran-shan, to help enforce his grip on power and aid him in establishing a more permanent ruling class for his Medean forces.
2 EP to beginning to fund observers in my surrounding nations, so that I can keep tabs on goings on in their factions, giving me a better ability to prepare for threats and react to opportunities.
The Reforms of Kargash-sar
Crisis nearly shatters the lineage of the Avatar of Takarzi. Nirnur-sar’s death from old age was followed very quickly by the simultaneous deaths of his son, Curugan-sar, and his firstborn grandson, Bardar. Both fell in battle against the Horde of the Bow, slain by arrows fired from afar. Bardar’s wife, who was preganant at the time, produced a daughter several months after his death. It was fortunate that there was one other male heir in Curugan-sar’s family of two sons and seven daughters. Though he was still just a boy, Bardar’s brother rose to the, and claimed his rightful position as the new High-King Kargash-sar. It was with somewhat greater trepidation that he took on his role as the Avatar of Takarzi, the physical incarnation of the War-God’s will on earth.
Kargash-sar is in many ways a break from the rest of his family. Never the strongest nor the quickest child, Kargash had a much stronger affinity for learning and ‘passive’ pursuits. For his whole life he had anticipated a high-ranking role in the growing civil service of the High-Kingdom of Hyak, but he had prepared far less for the unlikely event of the succession passing to himself.
Nonetheless, religion compelled Kargash-sar to make his mark as the Avatar of Takarzi, regardless of his natural inclinations.
At the beginning of the reigh of Kargash-sar, the growing edifice of the High-Kingdom was growing increasingly unwieldy, largely as a result of several centuries of temporary solutions and compromises piling atop of one other. The arrangement of power was decidedly haphazard. The nation possessed a High-King of the Baraganid Dynasty, who ruled everything except the realms of the Larenid King of Ortun and the Khurzelid King of Alamhadat. The King of Alamhadat ruled all of the city which was also the centre of the Hyakkid High-Kingdom, minus the Palace itself, which was under the High-King’s rule alone. Merion had once possessed domestic autonomy under the rule of the Hazerelid Dynasty, but with that lineage’s extinction, the Kingship of Merion was now in the control of the Baraganid Dynasty, the current leader of whom was also the High-King. A King is akin to a junior partner of the High-King, who possesses domestic autonomy over his own lands but bows to the High-King in foreign affairs.
Shamammu was theoretically also under the direct control of the High-King, although it was in practice governed through a highly-independent Lordship, held since its inception by the Khurtalids. This dynasty descended from Khurtali-bel, the half-brother of Sarrukan-sar, and the son of Naran-sar and a Hurrian princess. Numerous Hurrian Lordships existed between the Sirian Marches and the Lordship of Shamammu, but as these were split amongst a dozen or more lineages descended from Hurrian Chiefs who had pledged allegiance to the High-King, a century of more in the past, and though some of these Lordships had consolidated, they regularly broke up back into their original components if the dying Lord had more than a single son. As such, while the Hurrian Lordships were a significant force when united, they rarely wielded power as a single force, as Shamammu did. A Lordship is similar in function to a Kingship, except that the Lord must answer to the High-King in domestic affairs. Thus, a Lord is akin to an upholder of the High-King’s will, who answers to no one lower than the High-King himself.
Meanwhile, in various border territories and the Sirian marches, the High-King held de jure power, but had appointed inconsistent assortments of local governors to operate these more distant governments on his behalf. It was in these areas that Kargash-sar’s’s reforms would have the greatest immediate effect.
Kargash-sar’s familiarity with the government made it eminently clear that many things could not be changed, and in many cases it would be an unwise decision in both the short term and the long term to change them. The Kings of the Realm could not be removed except by physical force, and the Larenids had proven themselves in the past to be an effective bastion against the south, even while the High-Kingdom’s efforts were focused elsewhere. Similar, the Khurzelids and extinct Hazerelids had provided very useful applications of force in areas which received insufficient attention from the High-King. However, the disproportionate power that could theoretically be wielded by the Khurzelids, who could control all access to and from the capital, and by extension all access to the High-King himself, was noted with concern. If ever he needed to launch an offensive war, Kargash-sar noted that assassinating all of the living branches of the Khurzelids could kill two birds with one stone: it would be an effective justification for launching an attack, and would remove a potential internal power rival to boot.
The Hurrian Lordships were perpetually changing, and their dynastic conflicts rendered them unproductive and inward-focused. A large portion of this was due to their succession laws, which had been established countless generations before Hurria’s incorporation into Hyak. By these laws, a Chief’s territory would be divided up amongst his sons. Ambitious Chieftains, in response to this law, often avoided siring children once their first son was born, or committed ritual infanticide on any sons born after their first( or on their first son if he was weak and sickly and a second son was now available). High-Kings had repeatedly refused to split up the seventeen Chieftaincies-turned-Lordships into even smaller areas, which had helped to avoid further balkanizing the Hurrians, but still led to unfortunate strife and the reduced available manpower in the area.
To resolve this issue, Kargash-sar will propose to the Lords that the succession laws be changed, so that only the eldest son may inherit a Lordship. His goal is that, in the long term, this will lead to the formation of a single Hurrian Lordship, which will be a greater asset to the High-Kingdom than seventeen tiny, squabbling organizations. Whether or not the Lords of Hurria accept this remains to be seen.
More significant than this was Kargash-sar’s approach to the governance of the Marches, who were small enough to be significantly altered without triggering a significant uprising. The High-King immediately abolished the hereditary nature of many of these positions, re-establishing them as non-hereditary ‘reward positions’. In these areas, if a local authority figure wished for his offspring to gain his position, they would have to do some compelling service for the High-Kingdom, to prove their worthiness. Otherwise, these positions would be given directly by the High-King to heroic soldiers, significant but title-less friends of the High-Kingdom, and other such individuals. The goal of this is to provide an additional door for competent individuals to enter into positions of power and influence within Hyak, so that they may use this as a stepping stone into other significant positions and be justly rewarded for their achievements. Conversely, many decadent petty authorities will now be required to prove their worth, to maintain their roles.
The Foundation of Tamattu
Doussa, who seems to be peaceful enough, will again be tolerated so as it focuses its continued expansion towards the north and the east, and if Hyak is able to secure a port of its own to trade on the Fallen Sea. Should it attempt to get in our way, we shall issue stern warnings, with our armies to back up the threat. Regardless of Doussa’s actions, we will be keeping a close eye on this scion of Aramya, the city of Teir Aram.
Emissaries of Hyak will continue traveling through the north, spreading word of the Doctrine of Sarrukan (guarantees the protection of the traders, artists, farmers and so on to those who recognize the Primacy of the High-King). They will also work to build up trade ties in the region, establishing Hyak as a dominant player, if not the dominant trader, in the region.
Military forces, reinforced to once again contain 1 Ox Chariot, 3 Spearmen, 3 Archers, and 2 Qarabu Kalbanatu will be dispatched to guard the route from Shamammu to the Fallen Sea, where we will establish a new northern port city, Tamattu (which translates roughly as ‘The Sea’
. Our forces will protect the road builders and form the city’s initial garrison. Ideally, they will not have to fight, but if someone obstructs our goals of gaining a coastline on the Fallen Sea, we will have to meet them with arms. Locals who we encounter or bring under our rule are under no compulsion to convert to worshipping Takarzi, although those who do begin worshipping the King of Heaven and God of War will likely enjoy great advantages in social climbing.
Alliance with the Medean Horde of the Chariot
Haldran-shan will be supported strongly by the High-Kingdom, who will work hard to help in stabilizing his rulership and establishing a government so he can lead effectively. Hopefully, these reforms will act at all levels of society. If brutal measures are needed to oppose traditionalists and nomads, then so be it. Haldran-shan and Kargash-sar have more than enough forces to back up their goals. It is in our interest to see a Medean nation close in allegiance with our own and loyal to the tents of Takarzi becoming a fixture of our region.
3 Ox Chariots, 5 Spearmen, 5 Archers, 5 Qarabu Kalbanatu and 4 Hurrian Auxiliaries will join with the forces of Haldran-shan, and fight in close concert with him against the Medean Horde of the Bow. Any exciting new developments from our efforts to develop better equipment may be implemented in small engagements in this campaign.
As our forces work to break, scatter or shatter the Horde of the Bow, we will coordinate our forces very closely, fighting as a single unit when possible. While all of this is happening, we will be dispatching scouts throughout the Zagros Mountains and beyond, spreading word of Takarzi and also giving us a good idea at what potential allies and enemies exist beyond. Should we complete our destruction of the Horde of the Bow, we hope to begin pushing expansion of both Hyak and Medea eastwards, beyond Parusha and into the unknown.
Summary
Reform large parts of Hyakkid Governance, specifically adding a meritocratic element to the areas that are neither Kingdoms nor Lordships. Potentially we will try to convince the Hurrians to change their succession laws.
Complete the Great Plazas of Alamhadat.
Establish a coastline and a port on the Fallen Sea.
Help to further solidify our ally Haldran-shan’s control over the Medes.
Stats
Hyak, High-Kingdom of/Lord_Iggy
Color: Azure Blue
Religion: Takarzite Kitabalism
Age: Early Bronze (45/75)
Size: Large
Economy: 24/4 (3/15/6)-4
Military: 3 Ox Chariots (5), 1 Spearmen (4.5) 2 Spearmen (3), 3 Spearmen (1.5), 4 Archers (3), 3 Archers (1.5), 1 Qurabu Klabanatu (6), 2 Qurabu Klabanatu (4), 5 Qurabu Kalbanatu (2.0) 3 Curraghs (1), 20 Curraghs (0.5) (6 Hurrian Auxilaries)
Confidence: Tolerating
Culture: Strong
Projects:
p) alliance in France.
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